Food Bank mobilizes for relief in aftermath of Hurricane Helene
WINSTON-SALEM - Governor Cooper has requested an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for 39 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which will bring much-needed resources to areas of our state impacted by Hurricane Helene, including Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, hazard mitigation, and more.
The state's Feeding America Food Banks, including Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, in conjunction with their state association, Feeding the Carolinas, are working with emergency management organizations and mobilizing drinking water, food, and cleaning supplies to address the immediate needs of families who lives have been upturned by the devasting impacts of this historic storm.
Counties served by Second Harvest Foodbank affected by Hurricane Helene include Alexander,
Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Forsyth, Iredell, Surry, Yadkin, Watauga and Wilkes.
Initial Response Plan for Second Harvest Service Area
Second Harvest is contacting its partner food assistance network in communities hit by the storm to assess impacts to operations and other immediate needs.
Second Harvest will be deploying food, including ready-to-eat meals, in collaboration with its partners who are still able to operate, with a focus on the highest need areas.
Financial donations will enable Second Harvest to purchase large quantities of necessary food and supplies for direct distribution to residents impacted by the flooding, food pantries, and shelters.
Across Second Harvest Food Bank's service area, 10 of the organization's 18 service area counties have been severely affected by the storm.
Major road and highway closures caused by flooding, downed trees, and mudslides, particularly in rural and mountainous areas, pose challenges to Second Harvest response efforts. Second Harvest and our collaborating partners ask that the community members avoid driving into affected areas for your safety and to allow emergency response vehicles and our delivery trucks clear access to impacted areas.
Food Pantries Affected in Second Harvest Food Bank's Service Area
Early reports are that food assistance organizations within our network are experiencing operational disruptions due to road closures, power outages, and damaged facilities. This has and will continue to affect their ability to distribute food to neighbors in need at a time when our network is already experiencing sustained high requests for help.
Severe flooding in Watauga, Ashe, Wilkes, Alexander, Caldwell, Surry, and Yadkin Counties has caused severe damage to some partner pantry facilities, destroying cooling and refrigeration units, is expected to impact their ability to provide assistance for the multiple weeks. In more urban areas, such as Winston-Salem and Statesville, our partner pantries were already struggling to meet increased requests for food assistance. Power outages in some neighborhoods will most certainly have resulted in food spoilage and create a greater burden on these organizations' ability to assist our neighbors.
With the widespread destruction, it is reasonable to expect that food insecurity will further increase across the region due to the storm's impact. This includes families who have lost their homes or access to food, as well as those who will experience job loss due to business closures.
How You Can Help
Monetary Donations Are Essential. The most effective way to support our efforts right now is by making a financial donation. This allows us to quickly purchase food, water, and other essential supplies for the people who need them most. Please visit Second Harvest Food Bank's website to make a donation today. Local purchases, as possible, will also support local economies.
We do not recommend organizing activities to collect supplies or travel to the impacted areas since first responders – both government and nonprofit – are trained and prepared to execute action plans that create the best results for the communities affected. While such efforts are done out of a desire to help, the reality is that these activities can complicate relief efforts and take time and resources away from the efforts by groups tasked with response responsibilities.
Spread the Word
Help us raise awareness of the need in our community by sharing information and updates from our social channels and website. Encourage your neighbors, churches, and community groups to contribute by donating or volunteering. Use the hashtag #HeleneReliefSHFB on social media to amplify our call to action.
