How to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene: Charities, organizations to support relief efforts

The Category 4 storm left "apocalyptic" devastation across the Southeast.

By
Kelly McCarthy
 and
Yi-Jin Yu
via
October 7, 2024, 8:51 PM ET
5 min read

Hurricane Helene hit Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 storm with catastrophic sustained winds up to 140 mph and traveled north, leaving widespread destruction across the Southeast.

More than 230 people have been killed from the storm, which unleashed devastation across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, and has become the deadliest mainland hurricane since Katrina in 2005.

As Americans in storm-battered states begin to climb out of the damage, charity organizations have started to rally support efforts. See below for a full list of ways to donate to charitable groups.

How to help after Hurricane Helene

These organizations are directly serving communities impacted by Hurricane Helene:

  • Caring for Others
  • Feeding America
  • BeLoved Asheville
  • Global Empowerment Mission
  • Ground Force Humanitarian Aid
  • Mercy Chefs
  • Loving Food
  • Red Cross

    • Below is more about each organization and links for more information.

    Caring for Others

    An organization dedicated to fighting poverty, Caring for Others is accepting donations to provide relief funds and supplies for those impacted by Hurricane Helene. Click here to learn more.

    Feeding America

    Feeding America is working with partners on the ground in impacted states, including Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, to support Hurricane Helene recovery. The organization works with food banks and food pantries to combat hunger in America all year round and activates after disasters to support communities in need as well. Click here to learn more.

    BeLoved Asheville

    The nonprofit BeLoved Asheville is now dedicating all of their resources to Hurricane Helene relief efforts and distributing food and clothing items, as well as directing those in need to shelters. In just one day after Helene, the nonprofit says it provided food and water to more than 10,000 people. Click here to learn more.

    Global Empowerment Mission

    Following Hurricane Helene, Global Empowerment Mission, a nonprofit focused on solving humanitarian challenges, is distributing aid, including food, water, hygiene supplies, cleaning materials, tarps, and pet supplies in Asheville, North Carolina and Perry, Florida. Click here to learn more.

    Ground Force Humanitarian Aid

    The nonprofit Ground Force Humanitarian Aid trains volunteers to respond to natural disasters and focuses particularly on helping older adults and individuals with disabilities. In Spruce Pine, North Carolina, the nonprofit says it is helping to distribute essential items to more than 500 cars per day. Click here to learn more.

    Mercy Chefs

    Mercy Chefs is providing thousands of hot meals in Newberry, Florida, and Asheville, North Carolina. Click here to learn more.

    Loving Food

    Asheville-based Loving Food Resouces is dedicated to providing food, health, and personal care items to people in the region who are living with HIV and AIDS or are in hospice care. Click here to learn more.

    Red Cross

    Help people affected by Hurricane Helene. Your donation enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. Click here to learn more.

    The Walt Disney Company, ABC News' parent company, provides annual support to the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, which allows organizations like the American Red Cross to immediately activate and provide much-needed assistance to hard-hit areas in the U.S.

    Editor's Note: This story was originally published on Sept. 30, 2024 and has been updated with charities featured on "Good Morning America."