TENNESSEE, USA — In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, numerous East Tennesseans are reeling from the severe weather event's impact on communities.
The devastating floods greatly impacted Cocke, Greene, Unicoi, Carter, Hawkins, Hamblen, Johnson and Washington counties. Gov. Bill Lee issued a Major Disaster Declaration for those counties on Sept. 30.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is asking people to provide physical donations only when asked by local and state authorities to specified drop-off sites. People should not try to self-deploy to disaster areas -- TEMA said that will hinder response and recovery efforts.
TEMA has created a website at this link with recovery updates, volunteer opportunities and available resources for people in need.
Organizations are asking for your help to support those in need. Here's how you can assist those offering support to areas by Hurricane Helene.
Ways to Donate and Volunteer
- American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is accepting donations to help people in the Southeast impacted by Hurricane Helene. WBIR has set up a page that will ensure donations will go to people impacted by the hurricane at his link.
"That allows us to have shelters open, getting volunteers there providing meals. We have our vehicles, they go out where they can and provide meals," said a spokesperson for the American Red Cross.
- East Tennessee Foundation
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said the Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund has been set up with the East Tennessee Foundation to provide monetary donations to impacted counties. You can donate at this link. The money will help local nonprofits and agencies with long-term recovery efforts from flooding.
- MEDIC Regional Blood Center
MEDIC Regional Blood Center is holding several extra blood drives across the area and will also be donating all funds received from its Skip the Gift donor program to disaster victims via the East Tennessee Foundation. Donors will still have the opportunity to receive a gift for blood donations, and for each donor who chooses not to take the t-shirt or mug, $5 will be donated to relief efforts. Skip the Gift will run from Tuesday, Oct. 1 through the 31st. You can find blood donation opportunities near you by heading MEDIC's website at this link.
- The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army will be sending its Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) team to East Tennessee to provide essential relief services to affected communities. Their team of approximately 20 officers, staff and volunteers plan to begin meal service in affected areas as soon as possible, according to a release. Resources include mobile kitchen units, emotional and spiritual care, hot meals and beverages for survivors and more.
The organization states that financial contributions are the most effective way to support disaster relief efforts at this time. All donations go directly towards providing relief to survivors. Donations can be made online at helpsalvationarmy.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
- Mountain Tough
Mountain Tough, the volunteer organization created in the wake of the 2016 Sevier County wildfire disaster, said it is reactivating to help people impacted by flooding. The organization will be taking monetary donations at its website at this link.
The Sevier County Government will collect bottled water and sanitized wipes starting Monday, Oct. 7 at John L. Marshall Technology Park (1756 Jack Delozier Drive in Sevierville). Only water and wipes will be accepted, and people can drop those off on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (October 7-9) from 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Dollywood and Pigeon Forge
Dollywood is helping take donations at a drop-off location at the park. The effort is in conjunction with the city of Pigeon Forge, which is taking donations at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge.
The city and Dollywood said items needed most right now include:
- Buckets with lids, tarps, shovels, and rakes
- Trash bags, work gloves, masks
- Diapers, cleaning wipes, baby formula
- Food, can openers, first aid supplies, personal hygiene items
- Kitty litter, pet food
- New socks and underwear, clean towels
- University of Tennessee
Tennessee Athletics will hold a "Mountain Strong" donation drive. They will accept donations at the Pilot PSS Warehouse from Tuesday, Oct. 15 through Thursday, Oct. 17. The address is 4200 Middlebrook Farm Lane, Building #5, Knoxville, TN, 37921.
Drop-off times are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
UT staff, students and student-athletes can sign up for shifts through the Division of Student Life's Jones Center.
The Vol Shop and Alumni Hall are also selling shirts, stickers and hats featuring the "Mountain Strong" logo that the Tennessee football team has been wearing. All proceeds from items sold will go to charity to support flood victims. You can purchase those items from the Vol Shop at this link, or the Alumni Hall at this link.
UT said it will be organizing, accepting and mobilizing donations for people affected by Helene in the coming weeks. It said it will provide more details soon, including how students, staff and faculty can volunteer to help through the Division of Student Life's Jones Center.
- Pilot
UT said Pilot is preparing its network of travel centers to support communities affected by Helene through an in-store, round-up campaign for the American Red Cross.
Through Oct. 18, guests can visit any U.S.-owned and operated Pilot, Flying J and One9 travel center location to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar.
They said 100% of funds raised will support Red Cross response efforts.
- Knox County Sheriff's Office
KCSO says people are welcome to leave items such as bottled water, non-perishable foods, can openers, trash bags, blankets, gloves, gift cards and hygiene items.
They can be left at the KCSO West Precinct station in Turkey Creek beside Buffalo Wild Wings off Parkside Drive.
The West Precinct station will be open until 7:30 p.m. this week so people can drop off items.
- City of Oak Ridge Government
The City of Oak Ridge Government and Oak Ridge Schools will be collecting supplies and water bottles all week to bring to neighbors impacted by Hurricane Helene. Interested donors can stop by the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Municipal Building anytime between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. through Thursday, Oct. 3. or provide monetary donations to supporting East Tennessee organizations.
- Greeneville Police Department
Update 9/30: GPD says that water points of distribution will be in operation each week as well on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3 pm to 5 pm until otherwise advised for Greene County residents.
The Greeneville Police Department is collecting donations to aid those affected by Hurricane Helene and first responders from Monday, Sept. 30 to Friday, Oct. 4. They request bottled water, large trash bags, toiletries, new clothes and shoes, non-perishable goods, baby products and cleaning supplies.
GPD asks that donors bring all donation items to the Greenville Flyboys' front office located at Pioneer Park to the right of the ticket windows anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more information click here.
- Loudon County Sheriff's Office
The Loudon County Sheriff's Office will be accepting donation items in the front parking lot of the Loudon County Justice Center (12680 Highway 11 W Ste 1 Lenoir City, TN 37771) through Friday, Oct. 4 from 9 a.m to 7 p.m. Needed items include non-perishable food, hygiene, personal care, baby, pet, cleaning, and utility items. Non-potable water for flushing toilets and washing clothes are also desperately needed.
Currently, LCSO says there is NOT a need for clothing items. They ask that all monetary donations be sent directly to the Cocke County Relief Fund or at https://regionahead.com. Donors can also donate blood at a nearby donation center. For more information, click here.
- Grainger County Sheriff's Office
The Grainger County Sheriff's Office is asking for donations of bottled water to assist a neighboring sheriff's department that is collecting resources for Hurricane Helene victims. The department says that they have a box truck in the parking lot for dropoffs at the Justice Center (270 Justice Center Drive) and any amount is appreciated.
- Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee
The City of Knoxville will be partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee to collect water, food and funds for Northeast Tennessee neighbors hit by Hurricane Helene. They ask that bottled water, nonperishable food items and donations be brought to the Citywide National Night Out kickoff event at the City of Knoxville Public Safety Complex (1650 Huron Street) on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Second Harvest will begin taking donations at 3 pm before the event's start at 4 pm. Free activities for kids will also be available.
- Townsend/Great Smokies KOA Holiday
The Townsend / Great Smokies KOA Holiday will be collecting disaster relief items to donate to people who have been affected by Hurricane Helene flooding. The site is asking for water, snacks, cleaning supplies, rubber gloves, work gloves, personal hygiene items and any other donation items. Items can be dropped off at the welcome center at 7929 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Townsend, TN 37882.
- El Chisme Today
El Chisme Today will be collecting donations items from 1 to 5 p.m. beginning on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 13305 Chapman Highway at the Smoky Tire Shop for families affected in Newport, Sevierville and surrounding areas. They are asking for donations of canned goods, cleaning products, clothes for children/adults, diapers for children/adults and water. El Chisme Today will also be giving food to those in need on Tuesday from 9 am to 5 pm at 407 Old Knoxville Highway. For more information, contact 865-556-4035.
- Body Mind Realign
US Congress candidate Jane George will be collecting items specifically for women at Body Mind Realign Functional Medicine Chiropractic at 7423 S Northshore Drive. Donations will be accepted beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 30 to be delivered to local families affected by flooding. Needed items include water, biodegradable/disposable wipes, juice boxes, feminine hygiene products, toothbrushes/toothpaste, biodegradable soap, deodorant, diapers and small buckets. Please call 865-455-1750 for more information.
- Mission of Hope/Knoxville Wholesale Furniture
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, Mission of Hope and Knoxville Wholesale Furniture have teamed up to host a canned food drive on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Knoxville Wholesale Furniture Clearance Center, according to a release. The event will be accepting canned goods, bottled water and non-perishable items. Mayor Jacobs and other volunteers will be onsite at 7428 Kingston Pike to collect donations and ensure all contributions are properly distributed to flood victims.
- Pigeon Forge Tennessee
Pigeon Forge is collecting items for East Tennesseans affected by last week's flooding. Items needed include buckets with lids, tarps, trash bags, masks, bottled water, prepackaged snacks, can openers, personal hygiene items, new socks and underwear, first aid supplies and more. They will be accepting donations beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 8 a.m. at the LeConte Center's front/events entrance on 2986 Teaster Lane. For a complete list of needed donation items. click here.
- Faircloth Customs and Coatings
Faircloth Customs and Coatings is accepting storm donations at 8812 Kingston Pike I-40 Walker Springs to support Hurricane Helene victims. They plan to travel to Evergreen Freewill Baptist Church in Erwin, TN on Saturday, Oct. 5 and are accepting donations of water, non-perishable food items, toiletries, cleaning supplies and more.
- Yassin's Falafel House
Yassin's Falafel House is collecting donations to support communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Funds received will support the distribution of hot meals and can be made at LaunchGood.com/Hurricanecommunityhelp. The online campaign will be collecting funds until Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 2 a team at The Soup Kitchen in Greenville will be serving hot meals to hundreds of people in need and first responders.
- Save the Children
Save the Children has created an online fundraiser to meet the immediate needs of children and families hit by Hurricane Helene and Cocke and Greene counties. The nonprofit is raising money for child-focused emergency supplies, including diapers, wipes, hygiene kits, soap, sanitizer, tents and sleeping bags. Save the Children is also working to provide classroom cleaning kits for area schools to restore damaged childcare centers. Interested donors should make donations to the Children's Emergency Fund online.
- Saint Mary's Legacy Clinic
Saint Mary's Legacy Clinic is asking for donations for Hurricane Helene victims. They currently accept non-perishable canned food with pop tops, bottled water, baby wipes, baby formula, diapers, feminine hygiene products, travel-size toiletries, Band-Aids and antibiotic ointment. Items can be delivered to 805 S. Northshore Drive or 10923 Carmichael Road.
- Knox Pride and South Press
Knox Pride said it was working with South Press to host a series of events raising money to help communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. It said it would raise money and resources for Clean Water Expected in East Tennessee, a nonprofit that began in 2006 by a group who said they were directly affected by polluted water in Cocke County.
The events include a variety show on Oct. 24 at South Press, a "Shake 'n Bake" bake sale on Nov. 7 and a Silent Disco event on Nov. 14. People can also donate resources in person at South Press or at Knox Pride's Community and Resource Center.
Churches
- Alpha Baptist Church
The Alpha Baptist Church in Morristown, TN will be opening its church at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28 to first responders, assisters and anyone who needs a meal or a place to go in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The church is located at 245 Saint Johns Road.
- Covenant Life Church
Covenant Life Church will be collecting donations of food, water, toiletries and more for those impacted by Hurricane Helene through Friday evening. The church will be loading multiple trailers worth of items and traveling to Elizabethton. Their address is 151 Sycamore Place in Clinton.
Contact Numbers
- TBI
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has established a hotline to coordinate reports of missing persons in the areas that have been affected by Hurricane Helene flooding.
TBI asks that those wishing to report missing individuals in affected areas across East Tennessee to contact 1-800-TBI-FIND with as much identifying information as possible. All information gathered by TBI regarding the missing person(s) will be made available to law enforcement authorities.
This article will be updated as more resources and information become available.