When Disaster Strikes
Hurricanes Helene and Milton are Just the Latest.
Significant natural disasters are more and more common these days. It's as though no place on Earth is immune from our changing global climate patterns. Whether it's wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and California, tornadoes or blizzards in the Midwest, or hurricanes and flooding in the South and on the East Coast, it can sometimes feel like there's a disaster somewhere every day.
We're often asked by our caring clients, "What can we do to help?"
In the wake of Hurricane Ian in 2022, we put together a resource list for those interested in supporting organizations that were on deck to help. This week, we felt called to do the same in the terrible aftermath that is still unfolding over a week after Hurricane Helene trounced the Florida Big Bend and flooded communities from Virginia all the way to Georgia.
Here are some tips and vetted nonprofits that can use your financial support right now. If you're interested in helping, you can donate directly to these organizations. Every little bit helps.
We know you might be thinking, "But isn't it better if I send supplies or travel to these locations to give my time to help people?"
The answer is an unequivocal NO.
Officials never advise travel to hard-hit locations. This strains infrastructure and resources when communities are already struggling.
Sending supplies causes similar logistics challenges, and unless you know specifically what a community's needs are, your gesture of support may not hit the mark.
The best thing we can do to help is donate our dollars to worthy causes working on recovery.
Donate to These Nonprofits to Aid Hurricane Helene Victims
These organizations are good options for year-round donations, along with disaster-specific support. Check them out and give wherever your heart calls you to!
American Red Cross - general assistance
Mercy Chefs - food and beverage support
World Central Kitchen - food and beverage support
CARE - cash assistance to victims
Direct Relief - medical aid
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief - grassroots support
Save the Children - support for babies and children's needs
Humane Society - show the animals some love
If you know of any other resources that we should list here, please leave us a comment.
If others ask you to support an organization, do your homework and make sure that they have good ratings from nonprofit watchdogs Charity Navigator and Candid (click below).
Remember: when disaster strikes, we all have to take it one day at a time and hold onto as much gratitude and humanity as we can. We are resilient when we stand together and support each other like the big human family we are.
