Hurricane Helene's impacts, near and far

Our Community Foundation extends our deepest sympathy and unwavering support to those impacted by Hurricane Helene here at home, up the gulf coast, the Big Bend region, and beyond. As all of these communities recover from the devastating damage of the disaster, our hearts are with all those whose lives have been impacted.

In our local communities, as damage is assessed, we recognize many will face acute needs as is typical in the immediate aftermath of a storm this catastrophic. Impacts of closed businesses and damaged homes will create short-term community-wide needs. Season of Sharing has been a trusted, time-tested safety net for people experiencing unanticipated financial calamity who could be helped with immediate resources to cover rent, utilities, childcare, or transportation needs.

While the initial relief is an essential aspect of rebounding from a natural hazard, our Community Foundation maintains the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund, which addresses long-term needs. As we learned from Hurricane Ian, sometimes needs remain unknown until months or even years after a disaster strikes. Recently, the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund, initially created explicitly to address Hurricane Ian's impacts, was seeded with $100,000 from The Patterson Foundation, signifying the expansion of that fund to address disaster recovery, regardless of the storm.

Those who would like to make an impact can donate to Season of Sharing or Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund online, or by sending a check (payable to Community Foundation of Sarasota County) to Attn: Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund or Season of Sharing, 2635 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34237. All donations are tax-deductible.

We are communicating with community foundations across the state and will release information on how you can help areas most impacted as assessments are made and details are made available to us.

Together, we will recover from this storm with resilience.

If you'd like to help in the areas most impacted, here's a list of community foundations and disaster philanthropy organizations:

Florida

CFNF Disaster Relief Fund (Community Foundation of North Florida) – Funds assist those in our service area most impacted by these disasters, specifically Madison and Taylor counties. Activation of this fund allows CFNF to work with long-term recovery groups and area nonprofits serving victims and their families who have been most impacted by all three storms.

Community Organizations Active in a Disaster (Charlotte Community Foundation) - COAD is a network of non-profit organizations, faith-based groups, and government agencies dedicated to coordinating disaster response and recovery efforts in Charlotte County.

MCF Disaster Relief Fund (Manatee Community Foundation) - Provides grants and support to regional organizations directly aiding hurricane victims.

Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund (Community Foundation of Sarasota County) – Supports long-term, ongoing needs that emerge over time, so communities can heal holistically after a catastrophic weather event.

SWFL Emergency Relief Fund (Collaboratory) – This fund provides resources to organizations in southwest Florida working to provide aid to those impacted by emergency situations. The SWFL Emergency Relief Fund is a strategic partnership with Collaboratory, United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties.

Tampa Bay Rapid Response Fund (Community Foundation Tampa Bay) - Funds collected through this effort will be directed to address immediate needs through grants to select nonprofits.

Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund (Pinellas Community Foundation) - This fund helps the critical organizations providing assistance to the most vulnerable of our regional residents impacted by disasters. The Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund is a strategic collaboration of Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, Pinellas Community Foundation, and United Way Suncoast.

North Carolina

Disaster Relief Fund (North Carolina Community Foundation) - The fund will provide grants to charitable organizations on the ground in affected communities to support long-term recovery.

Emergency and Disaster Response Fund (The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina) - Supports regional response and relief efforts in 18 counties of Western North Carolina. Funds will ensure that frontline nonprofits have the resources they need for critical early response and continuing recovery efforts.

South Carolina

Disaster Relief Fund (Waccamaw Community Foundation) - Supports long-term recovery efforts as well as immediate relief efforts in the wake of natural disasters, when a federal disaster has been declared by governmental officials.

Midlands Community Response Fund (Central Carolina Community Foundation) - Supports nonprofits responding to Hurricane Helene in the Midlands by meeting immediate needs and longer-term recovery. All donations given through this fund will go to the 11 counties of the South Carolina Midlands and will be directed to areas with the greatest need.

Spartanburg County Disaster Relief Fund (Spartanburg County Foundation) – Supports efforts to get resources to Spartanburg County nonprofits providing relief, recovery, and rebuilding assistance.

Tennessee

Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund (East Tennessee Foundation) - Provides timely disaster grants to nonprofit organizations in the 25-county region of East Tennessee. Right now, this Fund is exclusively being used in East Tennessee to empower regional nonprofits and agencies to rescue and recover communities facing the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene.

Regional Resources

Appalachian Helene Response Fund (Appalachia Funders Network) - Established to provide immediate and sustained support to communities across the six states hardest hit by the storm.

Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund (Center for Disaster Philanthropy) - provides resources to community-based organizations to address medium- and long-term recovery needs, such as rebuilding homes and livelihoods and connecting survivors to disaster case management and legal services to improve their chances of recovering fully after a hurricane.