Thousands of volunteers have deployed to the Southeast. Sign up to volunteer today. CRESCENT CITY, CA (October 4, 2024) — The American Red Cross urgently needs volunteers now following Hurricane Helene. There are more than 1,200 Red Cross disaster responders working around the clock to provide safe shelter, comfort and support for people facing unimaginable destruction across the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');People affected by Hurricane Helene need urgent help now, and we can’t do this alone.When Help Can’t Wait.In the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida, the Red Cross is managing shelters where residents can get hot meals and emotional support. In these same areas, emergency response vehicles deployed from all over the country are on the roads providing meals and critical supplies as families begin to clean-up their homes. Our work has just begun and already, with the support of our partners, the Red Cross has provided tens of thousands of overnight shelter stays, meals and snacks.More than 200 Red Cross reunification team members are working to reconnect loved ones despite connectivity challenges. We’ve received more than 3,000 requests for help and that number continues to grow. Affected communities are facing different struggles, and the timeline for recovery and what support they need will be different. Each day, we are working tirelessly to reach more neighborhoods as conditions improve.In the Carolinas, we’re working with state taskforces to coordinate feeding efforts to help ensure communities are getting the help they need. And in Florida, the Red Cross is helping to assess residential damage.“As of yesterday, the California Gold Country Region has deployed 32 Red Crossers to the Southeast to provide care, comfort and hope to those impacted by Hurricane Helene. We anticipate this relief effort will last for months creating countless opportunities to volunteer here locally, as well as in the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.” -Caedy Minoletti, Northern California Chapter Executive DirectorHow You Can Help.We know that people are generous and want to do everything they can to help after a disaster. Our first priority is to provide shelter and support to those affected.If you want to make a difference in the lives of others, consider putting on a red vest and joining us. Hurricane season is far from over and the Southwest and California are forecast to have an above-normal wildfire risk this fall. If you would like to volunteer with the Red Cross, visit redcross.org/volunteer to learn more about volunteer opportunities. Just like the people served by the Red Cross, we’re proud our volunteers represent a wide array of cultures, backgrounds, ages, gender identities, lifestyles and beliefs. Everyone is welcome.Financial donations are the quickest and best way to help those who need it most. Financial donations for Hurricane Helene enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. Donations of clothing and household items divert resources away from our mission, whereas financial donations can be used right away to directly help those affected, such as replacing lost items like prescription medications or reading glasses. You can help by making a financial donation by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting the word HELENE to 90999.Give BloodThe Red Cross is working to restock critically needed blood products after the cancellation of blood drives across the Southeast, causing more than 2,500 blood donations to go uncollected.In the aftermath of Helene, patients are fighting their own battle. Those outside the affected areas are encouraged to schedule a blood donation appointment now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or using the Blood Donor App to help restock the shelves.How To Find HelpHundreds of people are still missing, but with connectivity destroyed throughout the affected area, many may not be able to communicate with loved ones. If you are trying to connect with someone because of Hurricane Helene, the Red Cross may be able to help. If you’re searching for a family member affected by the storm, please complete the form at this link for the state where they live: https://rdcrss.org/3TQPblL. Please provide as much detail as you can — the more you provide, the better we can assist. Red Cross Reunification teams are working as quickly as possible to help families reconnect with their loved ones after Hurricane Helene. This is a difficult time for everyone affected. It’s important to take care of yourself and reach out for help if you need someone to talk to. The Red Cross has disaster mental health workers available at many locations. If you or a loved one needs help, reach out through the Disaster Distress Helpline for free 24/7 multilingual support by calling or texting 1-800-985-5990. Be patient with yourself and those around you. People may need some time to put their feelings and thoughts in order.About the American Red Cross:The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });