There are a number of good charities that are already helping the victims of Hurricane Helene. Some of them are below:
Samaritan's Purse already had sites set up in five areas with more coming!
As recovery efforts begin, here are ways to help around Tampa Bay and beyond.
Volunteer
Pinellas County is seeking volunteers to help with local recovery efforts. Sign up at volunteerflorida.org/volunteerconnect.
Join Feeding Tampa Bay’s Emergency Response Volunteer Team, which works in partnership with local emergency operations centers to distribute food, hygiene items and water. Sign up at volunteer.feedingtampabay.org/disaster-response. You can also donate here.
Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay is part of a national organization, which also has locations in Central Florida and North Central Florida. Recent projects include covering vulnerable homes with roof tarps and coordinating hurricane relief kits. Visit rttb.org to learn about volunteer opportunities or donate.
World Central Kitchen, Chef José Andrés’ nonprofit, is serving free meals across Florida and other states impacted by the storm. To sign up for available volunteer shifts or donate, visit wck.org.
Operation BBQ Relief deploys mobile kitchens to fuel communities and first responders in areas hit by natural disasters. The nonprofit is serving meals around Florida, including St. Petersburg. Learn how to volunteer or donate at operationbbqrelief.org.
211 Tampa Bay Cares connects people to important resources, from food and mental health services to housing needs and veteran support. Donate at 211tampabay.org.
Metropolitan Ministries works with 65 neighborhood partners to help families across Tampa Bay. Donations go toward helping people access food, water, shelter and supplies after Helene. metromin.org.
The Salvation Army is raising funds to support its Incident Management Teams and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief field kitchens, which provide meals in Florida, Tennessee and other areas impacted by the storm. Donate at disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.
Florida Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters is a statewide group of nonprofits that work together to help people impacted by disasters. Learn more and donate at voadflorida.wpengine.com.
The Florida Disaster Fund is the official private fund from the state dedicated to helping communities responding to disaster. Contribute online via the Paypal Donation page. Make donations to Volunteer Florida Foundation. Checks can be mailed to: Volunteer Florida Foundation, Attn: Florida Disaster Fund, 1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250, Tallahassee, FL 32308.
GlobalGiving is collecting funds to help Helene survivors across Florida, the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia and Cuba. Funds go towards emergency meals and supplies, as well as support for frontline workers. After initial relief work is done, the fund will transition to help “longer-term recovery and resiliency efforts led by local, vetted organizations.” Donate at globalgiving.org/projects/hurricane-helene-relief-fund.
The West Pasco Title 1 Schools Hurricane Relief Donations Drive: Gulf High School is working with the Pasco Education Foundation to accept donations for families impacted by the storm. “All monies collected with be distributed fairly among the Title 1 elementary, middle, and high schools on the west side of Pasco,” read a Facebook post about the drive. “We are grateful for any contribution that will help our families get focused back on living and learning.” Visit bit.ly/pascohurricanerelief to donate.
Hudson High teams up with Metropolitan Ministries: Hudson High School will distribute hurricane relief supplies at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Clothing and hygiene items will also be available at the Hudson Community Clinic. To learn more about donating or receiving items, visit facebook.com/hudsonhighschoolpasco.
Anclote High School’s football program will collect cash donations, food, toiletries and clean clothing at upcoming football games on Monday and Friday. 1540 Sweetbriar Dr., Holiday. Contact Coach Berger at jschmach@pasco.k12.fk.us
Even Amazon is getting in the game with a link to the Red Cross
GoFundMe: GoFundMe fundraisers for people impacted by Hurricane Helene are already piling up in this popular crowdfunding site that connects you directly to people who need help. This can be a great way to help individuals in need and put a face on the person you're donating to, but it also can be an easy way to get scammed. Read the campaigns carefully. GoFundMe has set up a dedicated hub of Helene requests that have been vetted. The company also has its own Hurricane Relief Fund you can donate to, which provides cash grants to people who need help.
The Salvation Army: Another group quick to get on the ground when disaster strikes, the Salvation Army provides food, drinks, shelter, emotional and spiritual care and other emergency services to survivors and rescue workers. You can donate to Helene efforts online.
United Way: The United Way has launched a fund to help people impacted by Helene. Local United Way organizations are also accepting donations to help relief efforts for both short-term issues and to continue helping residents later. You can find your local chapter on the organization's website.
World Central Kitchen: When there is a disaster, Chef José Andrés is there with his teams to set up kitchen facilities and start serving thousands of meals to victims and responders. You can help by donating on their website.
There are also many other organizations providing specialty care and assistance:
All Hands and Hearts: This volunteer-based organization works alongside local residents to help by rebuilding schools, homes and other community infrastructure. It has a Helene fund started.
Americares: Americares focuses on medical aid, helping communities recover from disasters with access to medicine and providing personal protective equipment and medical supplies. To help Hurricane Helene victims, Americares has set up a donation page.
CARE: Provides relief through emergency cash assistance to families in underserved communities. Donate to their Helene fund on their website.
The Community Foundation Tampa Bay: This local group maintains its own list of local charities that can use help providing critical needs, or you can donate to the Tampa Bay Rapid Response Fund which distributes money to nonprofits in the community that are addressing emergency needs.
Direct Relief: Direct Relief brings long-term medical aid specifically needed by local officials and agencies. The organization has just made more than $74 million in medicines and medical supplies available for healthcare providers in the path of Hurricane Helene, according to an email. You can donate to their general fund or choose Hurricane Helene Response in the dropdown at their donation page.
Global Giving: This disaster relief charity provides immediate aid after emergencies to people, animals, and front-line workers and helps displaced families, but also addresses long-term assistance with a focus on local organizations. Donate to its Helene Ida fund on their website.
International Medical Corps: This organization works with state agencies and local healthcare providers to offer critical care and medical supplies. Donate to their Helene fund detailed on their website.
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief: A grassroots disaster relief network dedicated to getting help directly to the underserved communities who are often left out. Donate at mutualaiddisasterrelief.org .
Operation Blessing: This group works with emergency management and local churches to bring clean water, food, medicine and more supplies to people with immediate needs in disaster areas. Donate to their Helene fund on their website.
Save the Children: This organization works to get child-focused supplies into the hands of families hardest-hit by the storm including hygiene kits, diapers and baby wipes as well as classroom cleaning kits to schools and assistance in restoring child care and early learning centers. Donate to the Children's Emergency Fund.
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