Our hearts are heavy for all affected by Hurricane Helene across the Southeast and here in the Carolinas. And we are also inspired by the power of community we’re witnessing, from grassroots mutual aid networks taking shape to outpourings of financial support from across the nation. 

Although it is too early to know the full extent of the devastation, many of you have asked us how you can help. As local communities and organizations are best positioned to know what their communities need regarding relief and recovery efforts, we have compiled this list for you, aggregating resources, funds, and relief projects based in WNC and Upstate SC.

As rescue and recovery efforts are still actively evolving, this is by no means an exhaustive resource: this post is a living document that will be updated regularly by the CFSA team as more information becomes available. Currently, it draws largely from resources identified in local communities, as well as state and federal resources; please note that inclusion in this list does not indicate CFSA endorsement and that questions regarding specific resources and aid efforts should be directed to their respective organizers. 

Note: The CFSA team has been working with our web development agency to address an identified website issue: a few visitors have reported that the Hurricane Helene running resources webpage is returning an error message when loading. The developers have assessed the issue and determined that this error is caused by spikes in heavy page traffic, which are triggering brief, necessary server downtime windows. If you receive an error message when attempting to load the Hurricane Helene running resources webpage, please close the tab, wait 10 minutes, and try again. If the issue persists, try clearing your browser history/cookies, using a private browser to load the page, and/or re-attempting during a non-peak time (early morning and evening). We are grateful for our community’s interest in using and sharing this resource, and we thank you for your patience. 

Table of Contents

This is a living document. Last updated 11am, 10/4.

DONATE FUNDS

Local Nonprofits & Mutual Aid Organizations

Government & Education Funds

Regional and National Nonprofits

DONATE SUPPLIES

Helene Supply Dropoff Points

Most Needed Supplies

Check individual dropoff point websites/social media for most accurate requests by location.

  • Contractor-size trash bags
  • First Aid supplies
  • Hygiene products
  • Diapers
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Toilet paper
  • Paper towels
  • Shovels
  • Brooms
  • Gloves
  • Coolers
  • Propane
  • Cookstoves
  • Flashlights
  • Batteries
  • Fans
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Generators 
  • Infant formula and baby food

VOLUNTEER

FOR IMPACTED COMMUNITIES

FEMA for Individual Assistance info from NC Department of Insurance: FEMA has declared Individual Assistance (IA) for Hurricane Helene. What does FEMA IA mean for you? It means that you can apply for disaster assistance from FEMA to help offset your disaster-related expenses. You can apply online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or by telephone at (800) 621-3362. Otherwise, you can download the FEMA weather app from Google PlayStore or the Apple Store and you can apply for assistance on the app and upload receipts. Whichever method you choose, the form has a few questions that are tricky. To avoid delay, please follow the following tips from the NC Department of Insurance:

  1. One of the questions that FEMA will ask when you register is “Do You Have Emergency Needs”? This means during your evacuation or since staying at home during the disaster, do you need help with Gas, Medication, Food (meals, water, had no power and everything spoils), Shelter (you are staying with friends, family or in a hotel); Clothing; or Durable Medical Equipment (oxygen, walkers, cane, glasses, all major equipment, etc). If this is true, say “YES” to this question. That will result in your receiving Displacement / Critical Needs Assistance, which is $750.
  2. When asked if your home is/was accessible, answer “NO” if there was debris, tree branches, continued flooding, loss of power, damage or destruction that prevented you from staying there after Helene. This question is asking whether you can stay at your home or apartment and will trigger the ability for you to receive assistance to pay for hotels or provide funding to use while you stay with family or friends.
  3. When asked if utilities are out, say “YES” even if your utilities were only out for a few days. This triggers assistance $ to stay somewhere other than your home or to buy fuel to power a generator.
  4. When asked “Are you willing to relocate” say “YES” if you cannot live in your home due to damage, loss of power, etc. This question means you are willing to stay in a hotel or apartment temporarily, and triggers that funding for you. It is not asking if you are willing to move away from your home permanently.
  5. If you bought or buy a generator, FEMA will reimburse you up to $629, but you must submit the receipt. If you bought a chainsaw, FEMA will reimburse you up to $219. Again, you need to provide the receipt. Save your receipts.

Emergency Services & News

Community Forums

Shelter

North Carolina

South Carolina

Aid and Relief Assistance

  • Contact Samaritan’s Purse’s Hurricane Helene damage assessment team at 1(833) 747-1234. 
  • FEMA for renters/homeowners
  • For dialysis patients affected by Hurricane Helene, please call DaVita Guest Services at 1-800-244-0680.
  • Blue Roof (Provided by US Army Core of Engineers) provides tarps to those needing to cover their roof till it can be repaired. Call : 888-766-3258
  • If you’re a disabled person in need, please call the Disability & Disaster Hotline 800-626-4959.
  • Hurricane Helene Asheville Response
  • Hunger and Health Coalition: distributing available supplies of food, medicine, water, hygiene supplies 9am-4pm, Mon-Fri
  • F.A.R.M. Cafe offering free meals.
  • Hurricane Helene | South Carolina Department of Public Health  
  • Text WNC From the Group Up at 828.331.0334 for food.
  • Burke County Hotline: (828) 764-7068, 7am-9pm
  • WNC Food Systems Coalition is coordinating targeted supply drops to rural households. Email [email protected] with information about families in your network who need support, especially in East Buncombe and McDowell counties. Include specific needs in email if possible. 
  • Legal Aid NC assistance hotline: (866) 219-5262

Search & Rescue

  • North Carolina residents trying to connect with family members may call NC 211 (or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from outside the state) to report missing loved ones. People in the impacted areas can indicate they are safe by checking in on Facebook crisis response or reporting themselves safe through Red Cross Reunification by calling 1-800- ED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations.Try these numbers : 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) Charlotte Metro Chapter : 704-376-1661 Blue Ridge Piedmont Chapter : 828-322-4151 Western North Carolina Chapter : 828-258-3888
  • BUNCOMBE COUNTY has a portal to aide in searching for missing persons. Please go to this website and fill out a form.
    https://www.buncombecounty.org/countycenter/news-detail.aspx?id=21753
    • IF YOU SENT IN A FORM AND HAVE SINCE MADE CONTACT PLEASE LET THEM KNOW AT : [email protected]
  • OnStar crisis service is activated.All current, eligible Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac owners with properly equipped vehicles. Impacted by a crisis event and need help? Simply push your blue OnStar or red Emergency button to speak with an Advisor.

Telecommunications

  • Asheville Starlink Stations for Public Use
    • 1. DoubleTree Hilton Downtown, 199 Haywood
  • SSID: SORTOR STARLINK
  • Pass: ncstrong
  • 2. Asheville Shelter, Ferguson Building, 340 Victoria Rd
    • SSID: HALL STARLINK
    • Pass: ncstrong
  • SOS services on iPhone 14 or newer https://support.apple.com/en-us/101573
  • To connect your phone to disaster roaming services try:
    Go to settings > Connections > Mobile Network Settings > Enable Roaming
  • Carolina Emergency Response Team is looking for Helicopters/pilots:
    Call 843-860-8054
  • As phone services are restored, it is recommended to use texting whenever possible, so as not to overload the phone towers.
  • Mobile Apps for Emergencies – South Carolina Emergency Management Division 

FOR IMPACTED FARMS