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7 Religious Charities Helping With Hurricane Recovery Efforts

By Clemente Lisi
The wreckage of homes after Hurricane Helene passed through Keaton Beach, FL. (Photo courtesy of Paul Ratje// NYT)

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.

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 include 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.

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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. They also sais 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.”

On Oct. 1, 2024, volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse assist with recovery efforts in Asheville, North Carolina. (Photo: Facebook)

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 they are 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, they said, will receive all donations from parishes, organizations and individuals and, in collaboration with His Eminence 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.

This story was originally published by Religion Unplugged.

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. 

 

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12 Responses

    1. I don’t think this was meant to be a comprehensive list; there are certainly others providing aid and assistance.

  1. Isaiah said that Jesus “will not strive in the streets, nor will he even bend a reed.” In all the Gospels, Jesus had one goal -to bring people to salvation through faith. He never spoke out against the Roman’s policies, paganism, or imprisonment of society (making Jews slaves when convenient). He never led an uprising or tried to take Jerusalem back under Jewish rule. His calling, and ours, is not political. It is relational. Bringing the lost to Jesus. Jesus did, however, rail against sinful, ungodly religious rulers. He still does. Quit trying to gain power and prestige through politics! It’s not your calling.

  2. “ 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.”

    Since I’m a 3rd gen Appalachian I feel the need to speak the minds of what many of us in the region are realizing: climate is changing, but not because of what the ruling authorities say (cow farts, CO2 etc), but because of climate control (manipulation).

    “Others are engaging even in an eco-type of terrorism whereby they can alter the climate, set off earthquakes, volcanoes remotely through the use of electromagnetic waves. So there are plenty of ingenious minds out there that are at work finding ways in which they can wreak terror upon other nations. It’s real, and that’s the reason why we have to intensify our efforts, and that’s why this is so important.” Secretary of Defense William Cohen giving the keynote address at the Conference on Terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and US Strategy at the University of Georgia, Athens April 28, 1997.”

    Kyle Young substack: waging “weather warfare” and “plunder capitalism” on the good folk of the US. 10/9/2024

  3. Many charities and religious organizations are in truth part of the satanic cabal. Catholic Charities is one of many who is responsible for all the illegals here in the USA. Do your own research. The synagogue of satan are masters of disguise. Personally, I’m donating to a believer in NC who is assisting those in need & giving a full account.

    1. Dee, I suspect that those suffering will be grateful for any assitance- “satanic cabal” or otherwise. I suggest that you need to do better reserch yourself.

  4. This thread is so disheartening.
    People are in need and facing another hurricane coming, and we – the body of Christ, His representatives on earth – are throwing around conspiracy theories, accusations, and condemnations.
    Who needs “the satanic cabal” or “the synagogue of satan” when we are doing this to ourselves? If anything, Satan is laughing, as we are busier and louder about tearing each other apart than getting the Lord’s work done.
    Lord, come quickly.

  5. So much I could criticize Franklin Graham for (and I do). But Samaritan’s Purse is full of great people doing great work.

    God bless him and God bless them for the great work. Credit where credit due.

    1. And (given the allegations of misused funds at Gateway), the good thing about Samaritan’s Purse is that, when you make a donation, they tell you upfront that 1) up to 10% of the donation can be used to cover “administrative and fundraising” and 2) if they get more than they need, the excess will be used for a “similar pressing need”. They don’t say one thing and do another without disclosing things.

  6. While not on the same scale as the organization mentioned in the article, Mennonite Disaster Service is a constant in helping people recover from natural disasters.

  7. It’s hard for me to believe you could leave out SBC Disaster Relief/Send Relief. Serving all over the world and all 50 states. Even after Helene they held a weekend training in TN and 400 new volunteers have been deployed to devastated areas. Serving thousands of free meals a day, deploying shower trailers, tree cutting, mudding out houses, etc. What a great work!

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