By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
I’m taking a break from my normal blogging post topics to focus on how we can make a difference in Hurricane Helena Recovery. Thousands of victims were impacted from the high winds and flooding that not only took lives and property, but also continues to threaten people who need rescued. Food, water, and shelter, the necessities that many of us take for granted are in short supply.
How can we make a difference? My first suggestion is prayer.
- Pray for all the victims, first responders, volunteers, medical staff, and those concerned about loved ones and friends.
- Pray if our skills are needed to volunteer in rescuing others, cleanup, ministering, and simply offering a helping hand.
- Pray that all those involved stay safe.
For those of us not directly impacted, please consider contributing to one of these national or global relief organizations that are actively responding to critical needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Red Cross – https://www.redcross.org
Salvation Army – https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/
Samaritan’s Purse – https://www.samaritanspurse.org
Send Relief – https://www.sendrelief.org
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We trust and give to Samaritans Purse, and also Mercy Chefs, who bring in self contained trailers and chefs , who provide nutritious hot meals. They are now located near Asheville. If you have never heard of them, or want to know where they are located, look them up!
Thank you, Mary. I hadn’t heard of Mercy Chefs. What a wonderful way to minister to those in need.
How thoughtful of you to share this information, DiAnn.
Those of us with ties to North Carolina, might like the linke to NC’s government emergency fund.
https://pay.payitgov.com/ncdonations
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Thank you, Susan! I appreciate your willingness to share the link.
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Thank you, DiAnn, for these posted resources. I will share them. Thanks also for the reminder that prayer is the best gift we can give anyone. We know people not yet located in Ashville.
I just found your site today. Thank you for your review of my ten page beginning manuscript through Your Novel Blueprint. It was very helpful and encouraging.
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Thank you, Connie. I’m so sorry about not knowing if friends are safe. We have many friends in the area and praise God they are all accounted for. Glad to help with YNB. Be blessed!
I have heard that some Organizations do not give the full amount donated but retain a portion for themselves…..I do trust Samaritans Purse….to whom I will give:))
Blessings from the One, True, Living God
Vondia
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Vondia, I trust the organizations that either tell you a small percentage goes for admin or all goes to the need. I agree with you!
I’m giving through Samaritan’s Purse and will continue the prayers already going up for all those affected by this terrible storm. Thanks for including these websites where we can give, DiAnn!
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Martha, you are welcome. Our faith shines when we can help others with no thought of return.
Thank you for your insight, love and caring heart. We all can pray and try to be good stewards of our time, talents and treasures, whatever it may be.
The resources you gave are great, and I thank you. Prayers for so many who are touched one way or another.
This is real life, with real pain and real needs. Let’s all keep praying.
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Joyce, you said it best: This is real life, with real pain and real needs. Let’s all keep praying.
Thank you!
These resources are so helpful, DiAnn. Thank you.
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Christie, thanks for responding.
Thanks so very much for sharing your thoughts and information, DiAnn. Samaritan’s Purse is sending out relief teams and provisions, even as they deal with destruction in their own backyard. Our Tennessee county and neighboring counties were hit hard by the Nolichucky River and other waterways that overflowed and took out lives, entire homes, bridges, highways, and livelihoods. The flash floods were horrific–the water force was1.3 million gallons of water per second on the Nolichucky, compared to Niagara Falls with typical 700,000 gallons per second. Recovery will be long and costly. We’re all still in a bit of shock around here…hurricanes don’t usually affect us that much. Blessings to you…Nancy https://nancycwilliams.com/2024/09/30/the-privileged-life-are-you-ready-when-disaster-strikes/
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Thank you, Nancy. The devastation is overwhelming. I will continue to encourage others to help in any way possible.
Oh, friend… thank you for posting this. And especially for sharing the wonderful ways others can help. Our family lives in Waynesville, just outside Asheville. The damage of Helene is unbelievable … I cannot wrap my mind around it. Thankfully, our family and property is fine, but all around us… so so devastating. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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Maureen, I read your update online. Incredibly frightening. Praying for all those impacted.
Prayer is always my first responder in whatever comes unexpected. There is so much to lament in our world, but we already see evidences of God’s grace through rescue, donations, and lives spared. Even in disaster and difficulty, we may not know what God is up to, but through answered prayer, we get to know more about this glorious God. He is merciful and kind. He is!
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Thank you, Dawn. Through this horrific tragedy, I pray others turn to Jesus. We never know why these things happen, but we can mirror Jesus to others when they need it most.
Another great organization is Heart to Heart. They already have a team there.
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Thank you, Debbie. The area needs all the help they can get.