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How to help Helene and Milton survivors

  • Click here if you'd like to donate
  • Various organizations are providing food, shelter and other services
  • More than 230 killed during Helene, 4 killed so far during Milton

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(NewsNation) — Just two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated Florida, Georgia and other states along the Eastern Seaboard, Hurricane Milton tore through Florida.

While cleanup efforts continue for Helene victims, some of the focus has shifted to rescue and recovery efforts in Florida after Milton’s hit.

Hurricane Milton moved into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, pounding cities from coast to coast with ferocious winds and rain and whipping up a barrage of tornadoes. It caused at least four deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit.

Helene killed more than 230 people across six states, wiped away smaller communities and displaced thousands. Search-and-rescue crews from all over the nation remain on the ground, hoping to find the several hundred who are still missing.

Here is a list of organizations assisting in the effort to help Helene and Milton victims, accepting donations to assist those affected by the storm.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross has been on the ground in areas affected by the storm after moving teams of volunteers to regions in Helene’s path to be ready to assist storm victims. The Red Cross has partnered with local shelters, providing snacks and 45,000 ready-to-eat meals. The organization is also deploying emergency vehicles to assist storm victims.

Nexstar, which owns NewsNation, has partnered with the Red Cross to assist Helene victims through a fundraising effort designed to provide financial help to those in need. Those wishing to contribute to the effort can do so by clicking here.

Other ways to help: Those wanting to make donations to Helene victims can visit Redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767) to make a financial donation or schedule a blood donation appointment.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army has mobilized teams and mobile feeding units, each of which is capable of providing up to 1,500 meals per day. The efforts began in Florida, but the organization said assistance would also be provided to residents living in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Along with meal service, the Salvation Army said it is dispatching trained emotional and spiritual care personnel who will provide comfort and emotional support for survivors and first responders.

How to help: Those wishing to donate to the Salvation Army’s efforts to assist storm victims can donate by visiting the organization’s website.

OneBlood

In the wake of Hurricane Milton, one way Americans can give back and assist in the recovery is by donating blood. Susan Forbes with the organization OneBlood said it’s a cost-free way to support Milton victims in their time of need.

The organization said there is an urgent need for blood donations, especially for O-negative and O -Positive blood as well as Platelet donations. 

How to help: Those seeking to donate blood to Milton survivors can do so by visiting the OneBlood website. It has a page dedicated to Hurricane Milton’s recovery.

United Way

The United Way offers assistance to residents affected by Helene and other natural disasters by providing evacuation assistance, shelter, food and clothing, and other volunteer-driven efforts.

How to help: Those seeking to make monetary donations to storm victims and survivors can do so by visiting the United Way of Florida Disaster Fund website.

The United Way of North Carolina launched the “UW Helps NC Fund,” providing residents the opportunity to help support their neighbors. To donate, visit the organization’s website to make financial contributions to the local relief effort.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity works in 100 communities impacted by Helene working with low-to-moderate-income families facing barriers to recovery, as regular home insurance does not cover flood damage. The organization is currently conducting rapid assessments, but due to the fact many communities are still underwater, understanding the full scope of the damage remains difficult.

How to help: Habitat for Humanity is not accepting volunteers until long-term recovery efforts begin, and volunteers are discouraged from traveling to storm-impacted areas. However, those wishing to contribute financially to the organization’s efforts can donate at the group’s Helene recovery webpage.

World Vision

World Vision is assisting Helene victims by providing them with hurricane relief items such as cleaners, coolers, socks, flood buckets and personal items. After beginning the effort in Florida, World Vision has extended its support of storm victims in North Carolina and Georgia.

How you can help: Those interested in assisting storm victims and survivors through World Vision can do so by visiting the organization’s website.

Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities, which is the official domestic relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Church, has launched a dedicated effort to assist those affected by Helene. All funds donated to the effort will be directed to those displaced or in need of assistance following the storm.

How to help: Those wishing to make donations through Catholic Charities can visit the website set up to specifically provide financial help and other assistance to storm victims and survivors.

Samaritan’s Purse

Samaritan’s Purse is assisting storm victims and survivors in five locations around North Carolina affected by Helene. The organization is also providing support to three local hospitals hit hard by Helene and is delivering water and other basic necessities to residents and others impacted by the deadly storm.

How to help: Those interested in assisting Samaritan’s Purse can sign up to volunteer or donate monetarily.

Save the Children

Save the Children continues to work to meet the needs of children and families as the cleanup from Helene continues. The organization had emergency supplies in place before the storm but is now working to ensure that child-focused supplies are getting into the hands of those who need them most.

The organization is also partnering with local education partners to make sure that child care and early learning centers damaged by Helene can continue to provide assistance.

How you can help: Those interested in donating to the effort can contribute to the Children’s Emergency Fund at its website.

All Hands and Hearts

All Hands and Hearts provides immediate and long-term assistance to communities affected by natural disasters. The organization works alongside local residents and deploys teams of volunteers to help rebuild homes, schools, and other community infrastructure damaged or destroyed by storms.

How to help: All Hands and Hearts accepts financial donations through its website and also allows people to volunteer for teams sent to storm-effected areas to assist in community rebuilding efforts.

Project HOPE

Project HOPE works with local health officials, health systems and community organizations to deliver assistance to communities hit hard by natural disasters. The organization has an emergency response team in western North Carolina that is providing medical and relief supplies to communities through a partnership with the North Carolina Free and Charitable Clinics.

How to help: Those wishing to make a financial contribution to the local effort in North Carolina can donate at Project HOPE’s website.

Florida Disaster Fund

The Florida Disaster Fund is the state of Florida’s official private fundraising arm for disaster relief. According to the organization, the fund provides financial help to communities devastated by storms in response to emergencies and to provide relief to local residents.

How to help: Those wishing to help out with the effort can visit the group’s information and donation website.

North Carolina Disaster Fund

Similar to the effort in Florida, the North Carolina Disaster Fund is accepting donations to assist those affected in the state by the deadly storm. Contributions may be made either online or by sending a check through the U.S. mail.

Grey Bull Rescue

Grey Bull Rescue, a veteran-led group, has been busy around Tampa helping remove people from homes and other places that sustained damage from Hurricane Milton. Its founder, Bryan Stern, tells “NewsNation Now” that his people are focusing on rescuing babies, the elderly and those who can’t walk on their own.

How to help: Visit the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation’s website.

Mercy Chefs

Mercy Chefs, a Virginia-based disaster relief organization, is providing chef-prepared meals to those affected by Helene in Florida and North Carolina.

The organization is operating out of a local church in Florida and is distributing meals to residents displaced or otherwise affected by Helene. In North Carolina, Mercy Chefs has started an effort to provide meals for storm victims in Asheville, where teams from multiple states are arriving to begin serving meals to local residents beginning Tuesday.

How you can help: Those looking to contribute financially can visit the Mercy Chefs website for monetary donations. Those interested in volunteering to serve meals can sign up by visiting the organization’s volunteer sign-up page.

Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry

Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry is a local nonprofit organization that assists those impacted by poverty, homelessness and a lack of access to health care services in the greater Asheville, North Carolina, area. The faith-based organization has started a local fund to assist those affected or displaced by Helene.

How to help: Financial contributions may be made to ABCCM by visiting the organization’s donation website.

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