Hurricane Relief Efforts - Your Help is Needed!

If you're interested in helping with hurricane recovery efforts in western North Carolina and Florida, here are several reputable organizations you can contact to donate your time, money, or supplies. They offer a variety of ways to support communities and animals affected by natural disasters.

General Hurricane Recovery Volunteering

1. American Red Cross  

   - Provides shelter, food, and disaster relief services. Volunteers are needed for shelter support, supply distribution, and recovery work. 

   - Volunteer: https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html

2. Team Rubicon 

   - A veteran-led organization that helps with debris removal, home repairs, and recovery operations. It is open to both veterans and civilians. 

   - Volunteer: https://teamrubiconusa.org

3. All Hands and Hearts 

   - Focuses on long-term recovery, rebuilding homes and communities. Volunteers are provided with training and housing. 

   - Volunteer: https://www.allhandsandhearts.org

4. Habitat for Humanity 

   - Helps rebuild homes in disaster-affected areas. Volunteers can assist with construction and repair work. 

   - Volunteer: https://www.habitat.org

5. Samaritan’s Purse 

   - Mobilizes volunteers to clean up homes, remove debris, and provide repairs for those affected by disasters. 

   - Volunteer: https://www.samaritanspurse.org

6. Florida Disaster Relief (Volunteer Florida) 

   - Coordinates volunteers for hurricane recovery efforts across Florida. 

   - Volunteer: https://www.volunteerflorida.org

7. North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NC VOAD) 

   - A coalition of nonprofits that coordinates recovery efforts, seeking volunteers for rebuilding, supply distribution, and long-term recovery in North Carolina. 

   - Volunteer: https://www.ncvoad.org

8. Feeding the Carolinas / Feeding Florida 

   - Provides food and supplies to hurricane-affected communities. Volunteers are needed to help pack, sort, and distribute food. 

   - Volunteer: https://www.feedingthecarolinas.org 

   - https://www.feedingflorida.org

9. United Way 

   - Coordinates volunteer efforts for clean-up, donations, and support for displaced families in hurricane-affected areas. 

   - Volunteer: https://www.unitedway.org

10. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief 

   - Faith-based organization providing home repairs, debris removal, and emotional support during hurricane recovery efforts. 

   - Volunteer: https://www.southernbaptistrelief.org

11. Local Emergency Management Agencies 

   - Local county and state agencies often organize volunteers for debris removal, damage assessment, and shelter operations. 

   - Contact: 

     - North Carolina: https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management 

     - Florida: https://www.floridadisaster.org

Animal-Specific Volunteering and Donations

1. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)  

   - Provides disaster response for animals, including rescue, sheltering, and medical care. 

   - Donate/Volunteer: https://www.aspca.org

2. Best Friends Animal Society 

   - Helps rescue and shelter animals displaced by hurricanes, working with local shelters. 

   - Donate/Volunteer: https://bestfriends.org

3. Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) 

   - Provides rescue and shelter for animals, supporting local shelters during disasters. 

   - Donate/Volunteer: https://www.humanesociety.org

4. Greater Good Charities (Rescue Rebuild & Rescue Bank Programs)  

   - Provides food, supplies, and rebuilding assistance for shelters in disaster areas. 

   - Donate/Volunteer: https://www.greatergood.org

5. Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO)  

   - Focuses on rescuing and caring for animals affected by hurricanes. 

   - Donate/Volunteer: https://www.animalrescueneworleans.org

6. Wings of Rescue 

   - Airlifts animals from disaster zones to safe shelters, freeing up resources in impacted areas. 

   - Donate: https://www.wingsofrescue.org

7. The Animal Defense League of Texas 

   - Responds to natural disasters by rescuing and caring for displaced pets. 

   - Donate/Volunteer: https://www.adltexas.org

8. PetSmart Charities 

   - Partners with local shelters to provide disaster relief for pets, offering food and medical care. 

   - Donate/Volunteer: https://www.petsmartcharities.org

9. RedRover 

   - Provides disaster relief for animals and offers emergency grants to support shelters during recovery. 

   - Donate/Volunteer: https://redrover.org

For most organizations, financial donations are the most efficient way to provide immediate support, but many also accept volunteers, food, supplies, and other forms of assistance. Be sure to visit each organization's website for specific needs and opportunities.