In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact, our hearts remain with everyone affected, especially our neighbors in Western NC and Upstate SC. We are committed to supporting and standing alongside them.
While we continue to follow the evolving challenges, based on the most critical initial needs, we have provided philanthropic support to the organizations conducting essential relief work, including access to water. The TLLF Board has approved a $5 million commitment and distribution details are included below. We remain in close touch with our partners and aim to serve as a resource to them as they navigate these unprecedented challenges.
For more information or relevant support inquiries, please contact: HeleneResponse@levinefdn.org
FUNDS DISTRIBUTED
As of October 14, The Leon Levine Foundation has distributed more than $4.7M to aid organizations leading immediate relief efforts as well as additional unrestricted support to all of our existing partners located in Western NC to help address urgent financial needs.
Supported Aid Organizations (as of 10/14)
American Red Cross
Red Cross responders are providing shelter, food, water, relief supplies and comfort to those coping with the unimaginable destruction left behind by Hurricane Helene.
View WebsiteAsheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry
The ministry was able to open this week despite significant facility damage and equipment loss. They are serving anyone who comes in search of help.
View WebsiteBlue Ridge Community Health Services
Actively engaging with the community to meet needs by sending medical teams to shelters, mobile units to high need communities, outreach to migrant populations, mini clinics in high needs housing apartments, and robust pharmacy delivery services all in addition to meeting the needs of their established patients and their own staff.
View WebsiteCentral Carolina Community Foundation's One SC Fund
The One SC Fund is supporting nonprofit organizations in South Carolina providing relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene. In coordination with the South Carolina Office of Resilience, an agency of the Governor’s Cabinet, resources received by the fund are directed to communities most in need.
View WebsiteCommunity Care Clinic of Boone
The Clinic is open for medical needs and does active outreach to all established patients to assess for resource and medication needs.
View WebsiteThe Community Foundation of Western NC
The Community Foundation of Western NC’s Emergency and Disaster Response Fund is supporting frontline nonprofits in 18 counties of Western North Carolina including the Qualla Boundary that are providing emergency relief to those affected by Hurricane Helene.
View WebsiteFeeding the Carolinas
Food banks across the Carolinas are preparing meals, organizing volunteers, and sourcing food donations to where they are most needed. In that spirit, Feeding the Carolinas launched a shared fund dedicated to disaster relief efforts in 25 affected counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
View WebsiteGood Samaritan Clinic Morganton
The Clinic is actively serving the community with care and access to medications.
View WebsiteGreater Hickory Coop Christian Ministry
The ministry is operating on a regular schedule and serving both existing patients and those displaced from other areas of WNC. They are working to provide medical care, crisis assistance, financial support, food, and infant supplies.
View WebsiteHelping Hands Clinic
The Lenoir-based clinic is operating on a regular schedule and experiencing an influx of patients in need who have been displaced from areas of WNC with heavy damage.
View WebsiteHenderson County Free Medical Clinic
The Clinic is open for business. They are working to expand the pharmacy’s formula to meet increased demand and are providing power to help support those needing breathing treatments.
View WebsiteHunger & Health Coalition
Located in Boone, NC, Hunger & Health Coalition is distributing food and medicine to the most rural and isolated parts of Watauga, Ashe, Avery, and Johnson counties.
View WebsiteLegal Aid of North Carolina
Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Disaster Relief Project provides legal assistance and education to survivors of natural disasters in North Carolina and supports community economic development and equitable long-term recovery and resiliency in disaster-impacted communities.
View WebsiteMountain Area Health Education Center
Addressing the urgent needs of the community with walk-in acute care clinics and regional care coordination, fully staffing the county’s Emergency Medical Shelter, ensuring the communities access to critical medications, and expanding services including telemedicine. Significant attention has been needed for MAHEC’s own staff, many of whom lost their homes and need basic needs met so that they can continue to serve others.
View WebsiteNechama- Jewish Response to Disaster
As the domestic Jewish organization dedicated to disaster relief, Nechama has been deployed to Asheville and is mobilizing and utilizing volunteers from throughout the state and beyond. Nechama is a member of VOAD and to provide physical labor recovering homes, clearing debris, and muck and gut efforts throughout Buncombe and Henderson Counties.
View WebsiteNorth Carolina Partnership for Children
The North Carolina Partnership for Children is supporting several local Smart Start affiliates that are serving as distribution hubs for water, diapers, baby formula, and other critical care items to be sent to home and childcare centers.
View WebsitePisgah Legal Services
Providing critical, free legal support and essential aid in Western NC that includes, but is not limited to: • housing assistance (for both renters and homeowners) • health insurance and Medicaid • disaster employment benefits • consumer scams • and applying for FEMA assistance and other local and/or state aid.
View WebsiteSalvation Army - North and South Carolina Division
The Salvation Army has teams of trained Emergency Disaster Relief workers from across the nation in the Carolinas delivering essential food, supplies, and emotional support to the community.
View WebsiteTeam Rubicon
Team Rubicon is leading vital route clearance and search and rescue operations in North and South Carolina.
View WebsiteUnited Way of Asheville and Buncombe County
The United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County is spearheading efforts to ensure 211 is populated with up-to-date information on relief and recovery resources. It is also redistributing in-kind donations to families and community partners.
View WebsiteVecinos
The main clinic in Cullowhee has been closed, but staff are going door-to-door in the community delivering services and assessing for needs. Working to address the financial needs of agricultural workers who are losing out on being able to work during the high earning season.
View WebsiteWater Mission
A global relief organization headquartered in Charleston, Water Mission designs and implements safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions in developing countries and disaster areas. Deploying to Western NC almost immediately following the storm, Water Mission has enabled emergency safe water flowing in seven locations and is working towards having 20 total safe water treatment systems prepped, set up and operational in the days ahead.
View WebsiteWine to Water
Wine to Water is distributing water filters, bottled water, and food via distribution sites across Boone and Asheville, and deploying volunteer crews to clear back roads and get essential items to people in the rural parts of Watauga, Ashe, and Avery Counties.
View WebsiteRESOURCES FOR OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNERS
The first recommended step for any organization negatively impacted by Helene is to apply for public assistance, without delay:
- FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides supplemental grants to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments, and certain types of private non-profits so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.
- Small Business Administration’s low-interest disaster loans are available to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters. This includes qualified non-profits and religious institutions.
- Additional localized information, and potential funding beyond what FEMA is able to provide, may be available via your state’s public assistance program. For NC, visit the NC Department of Public Safety, and for SC, visit the SC Emergency Management Division.
- While it is recommended and easiest to apply for FEMA assistance online – either as an individual or on behalf of your organization – FEMA has also created physical Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) that can be visited in person, if able. See this link for information on locations across the region.
- Dated 10/7/2024, the following PowerPoint presentation is encouraged to be shared widely and includes both general information and important tips and considerations directly from FEMA in applying for both Public Assistance and Individual Assistance – for organizations and/or their clients in need.
- For additional resources and practical advice on how organizations can navigate disaster recovery beyond FEMA, please reference this guide from the National Council of Nonprofits.
- This multi-faceted and consistently updated resource guide addresses the intermediate and long-term recovery needs arising from Hurricane Helene in Western NC.
- For those in need of applying for individual disaster assistance (in addition to FEMA-specific links above), legal aid non-profits are positioned to help individuals apply and trouble shoot any concerns both in the short term and long term. See information below:
- Pisgah Legal Services {Western NC}
- Legal Aid of North Carolina {All of NC}
- South Carolina Legal Services {All of SC}
- Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy {Charlotte area}
WHAT WE ARE LEARNING
Last updated 10.9.2024
Clean water access remains the most critical issue, especially in Asheville and surrounding areas.
As repair work continues, a handful of international relief organizations are running forward with water filtration efforts, including Samaritans Purse, Water Mission, and Wine to Water.
The majority of the school systems in Western NC are closed, and a couple of the hardest hit counties (Buncombe and Avery) have no timeline for reopening in place.
FEMA funding is now available (See link from FEMA clarifying details), and there are existing legal nonprofits that have pivoted to helping people apply: