8 Religious Charities Helping With Back-To-Back Hurricane Recovery Efforts
Many charities and nonprofit organizations are currently accepting donations to help the victims of Hurricane Helene.
As the country turns its attention to Hurricane Milton, which is expected to bring life-threatening conditions to Florida’s Gulf Coast, specifically Tampa, this week, communities throughout the south are still reeling from the devastation caused by Helene almost two weeks ago.
“Hurricane Helene and the storms that were happening in the region anyway have all been amplified by the fact that the air is warmer and can hold more moisture, which meant that the rainfall totals — which, even without climate change, would have been incredibly high given the circumstances — were even higher,” Ben Clarke, a climate researcher at Imperial College London, told The Associated Press.
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The death toll from that hurricane, much of it as a result of flooding, has surpassed 225 people across six states — making it the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Many of those who died were first responders.
Hundreds of thousands remain without power and many have been displaced. As a result, numerous charities, many of them religiously affiliated ones, have sprung into action to help.
Here are six charities that are helping:
Samaritan’s Purse
The Christian charity is no stranger to reducing tremendous suffering and damage in communities all over the world. After Helene tore through much of the South — including the group’s headquarters in Boone, North Carolina — Samaritan’s Purse organizers had to find a way to help others as well as themselves.
On its website, the charity said, “We are doing tree work, mudding out homes, removing debris, and tarping roofs” across sites in North Carolina. It also said that heavy equipment is being used to clear private driveways and private roads. In some areas, we are also offering water and potable water to the community.”
Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, said, “Our hearts break for all those who have been devastated by Hurricane Helene. People have lost their homes, roads are washed out, millions are without power, and some have even lost loved ones — so many of our neighbors are hurting. We're thankful that we can respond and help in Jesus' Name. Please pray for these families and for our teams that are working in some of the hardest-hit areas across the Southeast.”
Catholic Charities USA
One of the biggest charities in the nation, Catholic Charities USA does outreach to 33 countries. As the official domestic disaster relief agency of the Catholic Church in the U.S., the charity said it has “launched a dedicated Helene disaster relief campaign. All donations received for disaster aid will be allocated to the Catholic Charities agencies providing critical relief — including shelter, food and other humanitarian aid — to those most in need.”
On its website, the charity said it has distributed $1.9 million thus far to Catholic Charities agencies in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.
“All 100% of the funds raised for Hurricane Helene relief are being distributed to local agencies assisting those displaced or suffering because of the storm,” the group said.
Salvation Army
Known for their red buckets at Christmastime, the Salvation Army is not just an international charity but a religious movement within the Protestant church. The U.S. officers are headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, and aligned with the Wesleyan-Holiness movement. The organization claims a worldwide membership of over 1.7 million adherents, known collectively as Salvationists.
While it’s helping Helene victims across the region, the group also has its sights on Milton and the impact of that storm in Florida.
The Salvation Army said on its website that base camps have been set up in Lakeland, about 40 minutes east of Tampa. The staging of base camp assets at that location, the group said, will “allow teams to assess the situation and prepare for any potential damage. The teams will also monitor the situation to ensure that Milton does not pose a threat to Tampa.”
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announced on Tuesday the establishment of the National Hurricane Relief Fund to raise money “for the immediate needs of those affected by the recent Hurricane Helene and who are now in the path of Hurricane Milton.”
The fund, it said, will receive all donations from parishes, organizations and individuals and, in collaboration with Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta and the Metropolis of Atlanta, will “access and determine the needs of our Greek Orthodox parishes and our faithful of the affected areas in order to distribute the funding.”
“In the wake of Hurricane Helene, we pray for every community affected: may those who are displaced find shelter; may those who are needy find sustenance; may those who are missing be found safely; may those who are providing aid have perseverance and compassion; may those whose lives have been lost find rest, and may their memories be eternal,” said Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. “As we continue to assess the damage and needs of the region, and look ahead to Hurricane Milton’s landfall, we ask that our faithful across the country keep these communities in their prayers and prepare to share aid and resources as needed, remembering that whatever we do for one of the least of these, we do for Christ.”
World Vision
A global Christian humanitarian organization, World Vision said it is “positioned and equipped to respond to disasters across the United States, including hurricanes like Helene & Milton, tornadoes and wildfires.”
In partnership with 3,000 churches and nonprofits around the country, World Vision is currently accepting donations.
The group added: “In the wake of disasters in the U.S., World Vision is often one of the first organizations to respond. With our decades of experience in emergency response and strong relationships, we partner with local organizations to provide immediate relief to affected children and families — especially through essential supplies.”
CBN’s Operation Blessing
Through Operation Blessing, the Christian Broadcasting Network is looking for both donations and volunteers to help those impacted by the twin hurricanes.
CBN reported that Virginia Beach-based Operation Blessing has brought “urgent relief” to survivors who are in need of water and power in western North Carolina. The group is also helping survivors in Florida and Georgia.
“Many people couldn’t leave — low-income communities were hit hardest because they didn’t have the resources to evacuate,” said the group’s spokeswoman, Hayley Henson.
Convoy of Hope
Featuring a blog with updates on disaster relief and Milton, Convoy of Hope is a faith-based organization “with a driving passion to feed the world.”
Providing aid since 1994, Convoy of Hope is involved with helping those impacted by Helene and is prepping for Milton.
In helping Helene survivors, the charity has set up distribution centers in 40 communities across six states.
Send Relief
A collaboration between the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board, Send Relief is Southern Baptists' global compassion ministry with outreach in 85 countries.
“We respond to crises and strengthen vulnerable communities around the world by meeting physical and spiritual needs in Jesus’ name,” the group says on its website.
“Ahead of every storm, Send Relief and SBDR stage resources and identify locations where we can establish response sites,” said Coy Webb, crisis response director for Send Relief. “Florida Baptists are still conducting initial assessments to determine locations of greatest need in the aftermath of the storm.”
Clemente Lisi is the executive editor of Religion Unplugged. He previously served as deputy head of news at the New York Daily News and a longtime reporter at The New York Post. Follow him on X @ClementeLisi.