Like many of you, we’re grieving for the people and places of Western North Carolina (WNC). We are only beginning to understand the devastation wrought by Helene, and it’s clear that recovery will take years.
We’re also heartened to see the incredible response from people across NC and beyond. The number one question we’ve heard this week is, “How can I help?”
If you’re looking for ways to give, here are four funds you can support. These funds are getting urgently needed resources to the organizations and people directly affected and hardest hit by the storm, including communities with less access to philanthropic dollars:
- Appalachian Helene Response Fund: Donate directly to mutual aid efforts or a recovery fund facilitated by Appalachia Funders Network. Recovery fund donations go through Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky; donors can designate support for NC in notes.
- Emergency and Disaster Response Fund: Support relief efforts by frontline nonprofits in 18 WNC counties and the Qualla Boundary, administered by the Community Foundation of Western NC.
- NC Counts Coalition: Help NC Counts get emergency supplies delivered directly to community-led organizations, including those serving immigrants in WNC, via trucks and planes.
- Organizing Resilience: Provide direct relief through mutual aid and community groups, support economic recovery and small businesses, and promote systemic change to prevent future disasters.
Many resources have been shared, and they’re all needed. Supporting the funds above will help ensure that our collective efforts reach all affected communities as they weather the immediate aftermath of Helene.
ZSR is also coordinating with other funders across the region to identify gaps and how we can best support WNC in the long term, and we will provide updates on those efforts as they unfold.