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Red Cross seeks volunteers to help with ongoing response to Hurricane Helene in Western N.C.

Residents of Marshall in Madison County start cleaning up after Hurricane Helene. Photos courtesy Josh Adams

ASHEVILLE — Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Western North Carolina over a month ago, and the Red Cross is still operating 8 shelters for about 300 people in 7 counties, while also delivering hot meals and emergency supplies to some of the hardest hit areas.

Since our efforts in North Carolina began, the Red Cross has been coordinating relief services with local officials and community partners across the state. Together, we opened over 80 shelters throughout North Carolina and provided over 20,000 overnight stays for people seeking refuge from the storm. Also, here in North Carolina, with the help of our partners, we have served nearly 400,000 meals, water and snacks to those in need.

Today nearly 600 trained volunteers from around the country, including North Carolina, are working tirelessly to deliver on our mission to help alleviate human suffering. Affected communities are facing different struggles, and the timeline for recovery and what support they need will be different. While the current focus is on addressing the immediate needs of those affected, the Red Cross also plays a critical role in long-term recovery after a disaster.

The Red Cross is currently looking for individuals who would be willing to donate their time and become a volunteer. Whether you have a few days or a couple of hours, the Red Cross can use your help. For example, volunteers can help in our shelters for a few hours organizing activities for residents or helping to keep things clean. Volunteers can also help with serving meals, or work at one of our many Community Care Centers by setting up and distributing emergency supplies to those who need them.

Mark and Ann Dunkel are a North Carolina couple who just started volunteering with the Red Cross. At a Community Care Center in Asheville, this husband and wife team greeted guests with kind smiles and provided information on services available. Mark said that signing up and getting started with the work wasn’t difficult. He explained the feeling of looking around after a destructive event like Hurricane Helene and wanting to join the community recovery effort, noting, “if I’m ok, there’s no excuse not to help.”

To become a volunteer email VolunteerHelene@redcross.org or visit https://www.redcross.org/local/north-carolina/volunteer.html

HOW TO FIND HELP

Many areas remain inaccessible. If you need assistance, please consider coming to a shelter. We know connectivity is difficult, but if you can, first download the Red Cross Emergency app to find service locations or visit redcross.org/helene. You can also find shelters by following your local Red Cross and local emergency officials on social media, or by monitoring local news. If you’re unable to access the information you need, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).

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If you’re searching for a loved one affected by the storm, please complete the form at redcross.org/helene for the state where they live. Provide as much detail as you can. We realize this is an incredibly emotional time and Red Cross reunification teams are working as quickly as possible to help families reconnect.

The Red Cross has disaster mental health workers available at many locations. If you or a loved one needs help, reach out through the Disaster Distress Helpline for free 24/7 multilingual support by calling or texting 1-800-985-5990.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

People affected by Hurricane Helene need urgent help now, and we can’t do this alone. You can help by making a financial donation by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting the word HELENE to 90999. Financial donations for Hurricane Helene enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.

Helene led to the cancellation of blood drives across Western North Carolina for about three weeks, causing nearly 2,000 blood donations to go uncollected. The Asheville Blood Center is now open and operating under a normal schedule, and blood drives are being scheduled across Western North Carolina. The Red Cross encourages individuals to schedule a blood donation appointment now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or using the Blood Donor App to help restock the shelves