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Response to Hurricane Helene – Relief Efforts

Updated: 10/11/24 at 9:17 AM

Please note that while we add information as we receive it, this list is not exhaustive of all volunteer needs and donation sites. This list will be updated as more opportunities are communicated to us.

Current Volunteer Information for the UTK Campus

  • The JCLS has set up an ongoing volunteer sign-up page on ServeUTK.
    • We are collecting information for those interested in volunteering for various relief efforts over the coming weeks and months. This is an interest form to share one’s interest in learning about service opportunities as they are identified.
    • As specific needs are identified, the JCLS will conduct outreach to interested volunteers on ways they can serve through coordinated relief efforts.
    • By signing up for this ongoing event, folks are not signing up for a specific shift, date, or service site.
  • Tennessee Athletics, in partnership with Pilot Flying J, is hosting a donation drive starting Tuesday October 15 through Thursday October 17. More information and registration can be found on ServeUTK.

TEMA Flash Reports

Get up-to-date information from TEMA on impacts & Relief efforts for affected counties.

View TEMA Flash Reports

TEMA Donation Information

On the main page, scroll down to see requested donations for East Tennessee.

View Donation Information

Information on Direct Service Opportunities

In the immediate aftermath of disasters, agencies have limited volunteer opportunities. However, as time goes on, areas will need assistance in rebuilding. Below is a list of how to find volunteer opportunities in the affected areas (there might not be any active needs for a general volunteer right now but keep checking back).

ETSU is hosting information sessions for *anyone* interested in volunteering to provide hands-on support for disaster recovery efforts across the region in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact.

These sessions help equip volunteers with the skills and knowledge they need to effectively support recovery efforts.

  • Tuesday, October 8 at 3 p.m. in the D.P. Culp Student Center Auditorium (ETSU’s Campus)
  • Tuesday, October 8 at 6 p.m. on Zoom

Those interested can register and find details here.

Each session lasts roughly one hour and will cover critical information such as where to find organized volunteer opportunities, how to stay safe while working in flooded areas, and what to bring and wear while volunteering.

***If additional sessions are added we will update this listing.

Samaritan’s Purse

American Red Cross

Region A.H.E.A.D. 

Crisis Call Center

  • Crisis Cleanup is a collaborative disaster work order management platform that improves coordination, reduces duplication of efforts, improves efficiency, and improves volunteers’ experience.
  • Volunteers who are interested in answering calls directly from impacted individuals can email Natalie Frankel at nfrankel@utk.edu to learn more.
    • Please note this opportunity involves talking directly to people who were impacted by the disaster. Volunteers are often the first person these individuals will speak to so anyone with experience in crisis management and/or previous experience with call centers/help lines is preferred.

  • Volunteer United & Tennessee Serves
    • Volunteer opportunities across the impacted areas in Tennessee. Interested volunteer will have to create an account on Volunteer United. Volunteers will be notified once the affected areas are ready to receive volunteers and opportunities are available. There opportunities listed under “Helene Disaster Relief” in Unicoi, Washington, Carter, Johnson and Greene Counties. Please check back daily as the situation changes by the hour.
  • Greene County
    • Anyone interested in working on the long-term recovery effort should contact AIDNET of Greene County by emailing Wendy Peay at wendy@unitedwayofgreenecounty.com

  • Pulaski County, VA: Call 540-994-2574 with your contact information and how you are willing to assist.
  • Damascus, VA: If you would like to assist residents in cleaning up their property and homes, please sign up at the Volunteer & Donations Coordination Center, 744 N Beaver Dam Ave, Damascus, VA. They are open 10am-5pm, Mon-Fri.
  • Radford, VA: Volunteers may be needed after damage assessments are completed. People interested in helping can contact Melissa Skelton at melissa.skelton@radfordva.gov. She will be in touch with needs as projects become available.

Information for Donating Goods

Access to some areas in the region is being restored, but road travel should still be limited to emergency personnel, relief agencies, and local residents. Contact local relief centers to see what items are still needed.

  • College of Veterinary Medicine

    • The Tennessee State Department of Agriculture has requested that the UT College of Veterinary Medicine serve as the lead for animal-related supplies that have been requested from our affected communities in East Tennessee.
    • Drop off at Brehm Animal Science Arena, 2506 River Drive, Knoxville during the following days/times: 
      • Wednesday, October 9: 2-6pm
      • Thursday, October 10: 2-6pm
    • Please follow signs to the drop-off point. Please ONLY bring the supplies requested on the list below
      • Dog/puppy food: dry or canned 
      • Cat/kitten food: dry or canned 
      • Grain/Pellets for livestock including horses (HIGHEST NEED), pigs (HIGHEST NEED), cattle, sheep/goats, and poultry
      • Rabbit food (and other small pet foods)
      • Square bales of hay. Please DO NOT donate round bales.
      • Cat litter  

  • American Red Cross Blood Donations
  • Mayor Indya Kincannon in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee
    • Updates Available on Facebook
    • Donations Requested:
      • Bottled Water
      • Non-perishable foods (pop-top preferred)
    • Drop Off Location: 136 Harvest Lane, Maryville, TN 37801
  • Mayor Glenn Jacobs in partnership with Mission of Hope and United Way
    • Update Available on Facebook
    • Donations Requested:
      • Bottled Water
    • Drop Off Locations:
      • Knox County Engineering & Public Words (205 W Baxter Ave)

  • Bristol Motor Speedway will serve as the Northeast Tennessee Disaster Relief Center in the aftermath of the devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene.
  • The property will be a major donation and collection site, provide workspace for the logistics and search and rescue teams, and house a regional disaster relief hotline (423-830-2696).
  • This site will operate with daily hours from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.
  • The primary location for the collection and distribution center will be in the BMS South Building at BMS Entrance 2 (South) off Volunteer Parkway.
  • NO CLOTHING ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME
  • View the Updated Donation Needs list.

  • Elizabethton Park and Recreation Center
    • 300 West Mill Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643
    • Urgent Needs List Updated on Facebook
    • Donations Requested:
      • Benadryl
      • Deodorant
      • Batteries
      • Flashlights
      • Battery lanterns
      • Bleach
      • Towels
      • NO USED ITEMS OF ANY KIND

  • Trinity United Methodist Church
    • Organizing donations to send to Western NC. Items needed are:
      • Extension cords, barbed wire fencing, yellow jacket spray, benadryl, N95 masks or similar, oxygen masks, long grill lighters, small propane tanks (filled up), camping supplies, blankets, buddy heaters, solar generated items, charcoal, nebulizers, epi-pens, insulin (not expired), gas, food, cots, and pillows.
    • For Greene County
      • non-perishable food, paper products, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, diapers, and wipes.
  • Crossroads Cowboy Church
    • We are accepting donations Monday, October 7th from 10am-5pm @ 8275 Old Asheville Highway, Greeneville, TN 37743. Information regarding the the rest of this week’s schedule will be posted Monday evening.
      • PediSure Enteral Formula Vanilla, T-Posts for fencing, hazmat suits, vinegar, stoves, hand warmers, rubber boots, plug in heaters, extension cords, barbed wire fencing, yellow jacket spray, benadryl, N95 masks or similar, oxygen masks, long grill lighters, small propane tanks (filled up), camping supplies, blankets, buddy heaters, solar generated items, charcoal, nebulizers, epi-pens, insulin (not expired), gas, food, cots, and pillows.

  • Washington County, TN Emergency Management
    • Washington County has transitioned all donation drop offs to Bristol Motor Speedway.
  • Johnson County Emergency Management
    • 1923 S. Shady Street, Mountain City, TN 37683
    • Urgent Needs List Updated on Facebook
    • Donations Requested:
      • Flashlights
      • Batteries
      • Trash Bags
      • Gloves (both medical and work)
      • Shampoo, Body Wash, Hand Soap
      • Deodorant
      • Rubbing Alcohol
      • Band Aids
      • Unopened and in date Tylenol and Ibuprofen
      • Wet Wipes
      • Charcoal
      • Small Propane Tanks
      • Gas cans and gift cards for fuel
      • Cleaning Supplies
      • Candles
      • NO CLOTHING ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME

  • Hunger and Health Coalition (Boone)
    • Donations Requested:
      • Hygiene products, shelf stable items that don’t require water, multivitamins, coolers, flashlights/batteries, already made meals, nutrient dense items — like beef jerky, peanut butter — fruit pouches, baby food, shelf stable milk, allergen friendly foods specifically gluten free, etc. We would also happily accept any hazard cleaning supplies (paper towels, bleach, buckets, rags, gloves, etc).
  • Operation Air-Drop (Concord, NC)
    • Donations Requested:
      • Packs of bottled water
      • Chewable Benadryl
      • NEW socks
      • NEW towels
      • Baby formula
      • Diapers
      • Food items like nut mixes, granola bars, and beef jerky
  • Hurricane Helene Airlift Relief (Statesville, NC and multiple drop off points across North Carolina)
  • Manna FoodBank in Asheville
    • Oct. 2-5, donations will be accepted from 9am-4pm at 99 Broadpointe Drive Mills River, NC)
    • Donations Requested:
      • Shelf-stable food (pop-top cans preferred, not requiring a can opener), bottled water, baby and toddler formula and food, and diapers.
    • Updates will be made available via the FoodBank’s website
  • BeLoved Asheville
    • Drop-off and staging updates are available on the organization’s social media pages. BeLoved Asheville is located at 32 Old Charlotte Hwy, Asheville, NC 28803.
    • Donations Requested:
      • Food
      • Bottled water
      • Contractor-size trash bags
      • NEW blankets
      • First aid supplies
      • Feminine hygiene products,
      • Diapers and new or very gently used baby clothes
      • Hand sanitizer
      • Toilet paper
      • Paper towels
      • Bleach
      • Shovels
      • Brooms
      • Gloves
      • Coolers
      • Propane
      • Cook stoves
      • Flashlights
      • Batteries
      • Fans
      • Dehumidifiers
      • Generators
  • Diaper Bank: Babies Need Bottoms – Asheville
  • JAARS (Avery County)
    • Supplies can be dropped off at 7700 JAARS Road, Waxhaw, NC 28173 (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
    • Donations Requested:
      • Water
      • Diapers
      • Infant formula
      • Sports drink powder
      • Protein bars
      • Batteries
      • Flashlights
  • Additional Donation Drop Off Locations
    • Basecamp: 101 E. Main St., Mayodan, NC
    • Cox Mill High School: 1355 Cox Mill Rd., Concord, NC 28027
    • Back Alley Bikes: 100 Boyd St., Carrboro, NC 27510 Open through Sat. 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
    • Art Post: 718 Iredell St. Durham, ,N.C. 27705 Accepting donations starting Monday Sept. 30 Monday-Saturday 12-6
    • The Scrap Exchange: 2050 Chapel Hill Rd., Durham, N.C. 27707 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    • Village Family Chiropractic: 717 Graves St., Kernersville, N.C.
    • Mountain Mule Packer Ranch:910-885-1402
      Mount Ulla, NC 28125
    • Democracy Green Drop-Off Site & Distribution Center #1: NC Diaper Bank, 437 Dimmocks Mill Rd. Suite 1, Hillsborough, NC 27278, Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Democracy Green Drop-Off Site #2: The SwatchWorks, Inc 453 Oakhurst Rd, Asheboro, NC 27205 Mon.-Thurs., 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • Eastern North Carolina:
      • Cape Fear Volunteer Center (accepting clean up kits, hygiene kits, & food). Accepting donations all week (the week of October 1st-4th). More information on donation needs.
      • 421 South College Rd., Wilmington, N.C.
      • 4618 Market St., Wilmington, N.C.
      • 703 Bellfork Rd., Jacksonville, N.C.
    • MegaCorp Logistics: 1011 Ashes Dr., Wilmington, N.C.

  • Plaza across from Food City: 744 N. Beaver Dam Ave., Damascus, VA 24236
  • Southwest Virginia Association of Realtors:
 128 Reedy Creek Rd., Abingdon, VA
  • Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards: 113 E 4th St S, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
  • 1 Cloverleaf Sq. Suite D1: Big Stone Gap, Va. 24219
    Collecting supplies for Damascus
9/30-10/5, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
  • Smyth County donation center: 02 East Main St, Marion, VA 24354
  • Blacksburg area:
    • 1590 Roanoke St., Christiansburg, Va. Hours: 11-7 Monday-Saturday and 10-2 Sunday
    • 1711 North Main St., Blacksburg, Va.  **Lower Level** Parking at bottom of driveway (not Dance Studio in upper level). Drop off anytime in the glass lower-level vestibule; large items accepted at warehouse entrance.
  • Roanoke Area:
    • The Village Grill:
1802 Memorial Ave., SW,
Roanoke, VA 24015
    • Scratch Biscuit Company:
1820 Memorial Ave., SW,
Roanoke, VA 24015
(For both restaurants, ask staff where to leave donations)
    • St. Philip Lutheran Church:
8115 Williamson Rd., Roanoke, VA 24019
(Donations accepted between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
    • Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke: 2015 Grandin Rd., SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 (Donations accepted through Friday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.) After hours donations box available
    • Parkway Brewing : 739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem, VA 24153
    • Cardinal Bicycle (Grandin)
      1312 Winborne St. SW, Roanoke, VA 24015
    • Cardinal Bicycle (Orange Ave)
      2901 Orange Ave NE, Roanoke, VA 24012
    • Twisted Track Brewpub
      523 Shenandoah Ave. NW, Roanoke, VA 24016
      (Donations accepted through Sunday, Oct. 6)
  • Richmond area:
    • Helen’s Restaurant: 2527 W. Main St., Richmond, VA 23220
    • SoulShine Studios: 9200 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 111, Richmond, VA 23235
  • Smyth County Public Safety
    • Smyth County Public Safety has opened a donation center at Old Wells Fargo Building at 102 E. Main St. in Marion. Donations needed: bottled water, shelf-stable food, cleaning supplies, gas cards, toys/diapers/baby food/formula, travel-sized toiletries, feminine hygiene supplies, tools (shovels, rakes, etc.) No clothing accepted. Check Facebook for daily updates on hours.

Information for Donating Funds

  • East Tennessee Foundation
  • TN VOAD
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee
    • “Monetary donations are a great way to support these efforts as we can stretch dollars far past their value on the retail market and respond to changing needs.”
  • Clean Water Expected in East Tennessee
    • Serving outlying areas of Hartford, Grassy Fork, and Del Rio as well as many smaller communities often overlooked
  • AIDNET of Greene County (PO Box 2622, Greeneville, TN 37744) 
    • Anyone interested in working on the long-term recovery effort should contact AIDNET of Greene County by emailing Wendy Peay at wendy@unitedwayofgreenecounty.com

Additional Ways to Support

In the immediate aftermath of disasters, people come together to help and support each other. To make the most of your contributions, it’s important to follow guidelines for donating and volunteering responsibly. The below tried and true best practices will give you a starting point on how you can help volunteer or donate responsibly for Hurricane Helene efforts.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE OFTEN THE BEST KIND OF DONATION TO MAKE. 

  • Providing a financial contribution to a voluntary organization involved in disaster activities is often the most sensible and efficient way of helping people in need.
  • Cash donations rather than unsolicited donated goods avoid the complicated, costly, and time-consuming process of collecting, sorting, packing, transporting, unloading, resorting, storing, repackaging, and distributing the goods.
  • Cash donations to voluntary organizations help meet the needs of survivors more precisely, as the voluntary organization is in a better position to purchase, or provide vouchers to purchase, what the people need. 
  • Cash donations to recognized relief organizations are also tax deductible.

USED CLOTHING IS RARELY A USEFUL ITEM TO COLLECT FOR DISASTER RELIEF.

  • Used clothing is rarely a useful item to collect and send into the disaster area because it is hard to clean, sort, pack, transport, store, and distribute.
  • Mounds of clothing take up valuable warehouse space and frequently end up being discarded. 

CONFIRM WHAT IS NEEDED BEFORE TAKING ACTION! 

  • The most effective way the public can assist is to support the experienced disaster relief organizations with either financial contributions or in-kind goods and services that the organizations report are needed.
  • Many experienced voluntary organizations involved in disaster relief have toll-free numbers staffed with operators who can provide information about which donated goods are needed in the disaster area.  
  • It is often a mistake to assume what is needed in a disaster.
  • Donors should be wary of anyone who claims that “everything is needed” in a disaster.
  • Get precise information before collecting any donated goods. 

DONATE THROUGH A REGISTERED ORGANIZATION. 

  • It is never a good idea to collect goods for disaster relief without a firm plan in place that confirms the goods are needed, who will receive the goods, how the goods will be transported and how they will be distributed.  
  • During a disaster, experienced disaster relief organizations base their activities on overall situation assessments and detailed needs assessments.  
  • Many relief groups have people and facilities ready to store and distribute the goods. 
  • Coordination with the relief group is essential to ensure the right goods are collected, the right amount is collected, and that logistics issues such as transportation, warehousing, and distribution are fully discussed.
  • Donors will find that it is often most practical to focus on one or two items that an organization needs rather than collect a variety of items. 

DONATED GOODS MUST BE WELL-PACKED AND LABELED. 

  • After confirming that the goods are needed and there is a plan to receive, store, and distribute them – the receiving organization will give you instructions about how the goods should be sorted, packaged, and labeled.  
  • Specific content lists should be taped to the side of each box.  This allows the receiving officials to determine the contents of the box without opening it, thereby allowing for a more timely distribution.  

  • The aftermath of a natural disaster is already chaotic, but misinformation can make it even more dangerous, putting lives at risk and complicating emergency response efforts. Tips to avoid spreading misinformation: 
    • Verify information before sharing by checking official UTK channels or trusted news outlets. 
    • Be cautious of sensationalized headlines and images that may be misleading. 
    • Look for credible sources—trusted institutions and experts are key in emergencies. 
    • Avoid spreading unconfirmed reports, especially on social media, without reliable evidence. 
    • Cross-check information from multiple sources to ensure accuracy. 
    • Correct misinformation if you see it, using verified facts and links. 
    • Pause before you share—remember that rumors can spread quickly. 

This information is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD). For more information about FEMA, go to www.fema.gov and for National VOAD, go to www.nvoad.org.