Current:Home > InvestHow to help those affected by Hurricane Helene -TradeBridge
How to help those affected by Hurricane Helene
View
Date:2025-04-16 03:55:19
The full impact of Hurricane Helene won’t be known for weeks, but groups from both the public and private sector are mobilizing efforts to help those affected by the Category 4 storm that has killed at least 120 people and already caused billions in damage.
If you want to help, experts say:
— Cash is king. Many groups providing aid will only accept cash donations because the needs are not fully known and it does not require additional resources to get the donations to those in need. Food and clothing drives may be helpful later in the process in specific communities, but it can divert manpower to connect the right people with the right items.
— Give to charities already working in the area. Because damage from Helene is spread out over six states in an area that reaches from Florida’s Big Bend to the Appalachians in Virginia, experts say to look for groups with a history of aid in the specific city or state you want to help so that your donation reaches your intended area more quickly. If you want suggestions, Charity Navigator and GoFundMe have curated lists of organizations and people in the affected areas,
— Look for matching donations. Nonprofits recognize that individuals may not be able to give as much as they would like due to the current economy and the number of current global crises. Experts suggest giving through places that will provide a matching donation. For example, Walmart announced Monday that its foundation will not only donate $6 million to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts, but it will match all customer donations made to the American Red Cross at Walmart and Sam’s Club stores, as well as Walmart.com, until Oct. 13, up to $2.5 million.
— Consider waiting. Rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Helene will take months, if not years, and the full picture of need is not available yet, experts say. They say that following disasters donations start out strong following the event and then slow down when it is no longer top of mind, even though that’s when the need made be growing when government benefits expire.
______
Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
veryGood! (984)
Related
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Why a Jets trade for Vikings QB Kirk Cousins makes sense for both teams in sinking seasons
- Safe Haven Baby Box used in New Mexico for 1st time as newborn boy dropped off at a fire station
- Supreme Court allows drawing of new Alabama congressional map to proceed, rejecting state’s plea
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- 100 Jewish leaders call out Elon Musk for antisemitism on X, formerly Twitter: We have watched in horror
- Flood-hit central Greece braces for new storm as military crews help bolster flood defenses
- California governor signs law raising taxes on guns and ammunition to pay for school safety
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- Notre Dame football has a new plan to avoid future game-losing scenarios after Ohio State
Ranking
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- Could LIV Golf event at Doral be last for Saudi-backed league at Donald Trump course?
- Nebraska officials shoot, kill mountain lion spotted on golf course during local tournament
- Herschel Walker’s wife is selling the Atlanta house listed as Republican’s residence in Senate run
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Taking estrogen can be important for some people, but does it cause weight gain?
- Car crashes into Amish horse-drawn buggy in Minnesota, killing 2 people and the horse
- United Farm Workers endorses Biden, says he’s an ‘authentic champion’ for workers and their families
Recommendation
Intellectuals vs. The Internet
A woman died after falling from a cliff at a Blue Ridge Parkway scenic overlook in North Carolina
What does a federal government shutdown mean? How you and your community could be affected
Swiss indict a former employee of trading firm Gunvor over bribes paid in Republic of Congo
How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
Jade Cargill signs deal with WWE; former AEW champion reporting to training center
Not again. Federal workers who’ve weathered past government shutdowns brace for yet another ordeal
Latino charitable giving rates drop sharply — but that’s not the full story