By Jess Dyer/ Do Good Charlotte Producer
If you've been anywhere near Charlotte lately, you've likely felt the collective ache for our neighbors in western North Carolina. Hurricane Helene has left a path of devastation through our beloved mountain towns—places that for many of us are more than just dots on a map. They're where we're from, where we went to college, got married, or escaped for weekend getaways.
As a state, we're coming together to help our neighbors rebuild. The road to recovery is long, but every act of kindness, no matter how small, makes a difference.
Do Good CLT is partnering with SHARE Charlotte to highlight three organizations making a unique impact in the recovery effort – and to show you how you can pitch in.
American Red Cross: Shelter, Food, and Support
Jason Gudzunas, the Executive Director of the Charlotte branch of the American Red Cross, paints a picture of their comprehensive approach: "Right now, the Red Cross is focused on sheltering, feeding, and reunification. We break it all up into these teams and they tackle this one by one.”
The challenges are immense, with communication being a critical issue. "Everybody in Asheville found early on that communication was down. Cell phone services weren't working. Electricity wasn't working. 911 wasn't working," Gudzunas explains. "This was a monumental task that took public and private folks working side by side. It's taking a lot of donations to a lot of different nonprofits, and it's not something that any one nonprofit could just muscle through. We've got to work side by side.”
A big way you can help: "Donate time, donate money, donate blood, rinse and repeat."
With many blood drives canceled due to Helene, blood donations are critically needed. And if you can't donate blood, your time is just as valuable.
"If you can volunteer, we'll take you," Jason says. "Some people are extroverts, some are introverts. We need both. Some people like to work with things, some behind a computer. We need both.”
The Independence Fund: Reaching the Unreachable
The Independence Fund is working with Save Our Allies to provide resources to people in areas that can’t be reached by vehicles right now. Clark Pennington, COO of The Independence Fund, says they’re doing airdrops and air transports of food, baby formula, diapers, generators, solar-powered packs, and other things that people need to survive.
"We're talking about families cut off from resources, unable to get food or power,” he says, “Landslides have caused houses to come off their foundations, literally taking everything from people who were just living a beautiful life in the mountains."
A big way you can help: Buy from The Independence Fund’s Amazon wishlist.
"We've been receiving thousands of packages a day from our Amazon wishlist," Clark says. "People can purchase items from their homes and send them directly to our office."
The needs are constantly evolving, and so is their wishlist. "We sync every morning and talk about what we're seeing, the changes that are needed," Clark explains. "That wishlist is changing"
The Diaper Bank of NC: Meeting Essential Needs
In times of crisis, some of the most basic needs can be overlooked. That's where the Diaper Bank of NC comes in. They're bringing diapers, period products, adult incontinence supplies, and formula directly to families in need.
Michelle Schaefer-Old, the Founder and CEO, is personally driving trucks of supplies into affected areas.
"On clear, sunny days, one in two families experience diaper need," she says. "When you throw a disaster into the mix, it's vulnerable families that are going to be impacted. And even those who normally could afford these products - they have no access to them."
The scale of their response is staggering. “Before the storm, we distributed 800,000 diapers a month serving 12,000 babies a month in North Carolina. That is going to triple,” she says, “We're looking at pushing out about 10 million diapers in six months.”
A big way you can help: Become a monthly donor.
"We're able to buy diapers much cheaper than you can get in a store or online," Michelle explains. "When you're buying them, we can get three times the amount that you're buying.”
North Carolina's community is stronger than any storm.
"Just seeing what North Carolina does gives you that warmth in your heart to know that we're going to be okay," Clark reflects. "It's a slow haul to get to the end, but we're going to stick through this thing together and we're going to get through it together."
Whether you choose to donate blood, volunteer your time, purchase items from a wishlist, or become a monthly donor, your contribution matters. As we unite to help our neighbors rebuild, we're reminded of the strength and resilience of our community.
Ready to help? SHARE Charlotte has compiled a comprehensive list of ways to contribute, including organizations to donate to, volunteer opportunities, and supply drop-off locations. Visit sharecharlotte.org to find out how you can make a difference today.
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