Volunteer, donation opportunities across WNC counties affected by Helene

WLOS — For anyone interested in helping with Helene recovery efforts, listed below are ways to get involved. Please email news@wlos.com for updates or other opportunities.

This story was last updated on Oct. 1, 2024

SINCAIR CARES

Sinclair is partnering with The Salvation Army for Sinclair Cares: Hurricane Helene Relief. Your donation will help The Salvation Army continue to provide meals, clean water and much needed assistance to residents and first responders on the ground. Sinclair will also provide a corporate donation up to $50,000 for the first $50,000 raised through www.sinclaircares.com.

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Buncombe County

Buncombe County Government asks anyone interested in providing donations, equipment, or have questions about specific needs, emailhelenedonations@buncombecounty.org.

Those interested in volunteering, please emailhelenevolunteers@buncombecounty.org.

The following local nonprofits are also accepting financial donations:

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The Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministries (ABCCM) Medical Clinic is accepting medication donations from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Acceptable items are sealed, manufactured bottles that are not expired and don’t require refrigeration only,and no controlled substances or cancer meds.

ABCCM also has Primary healthcare available for all adults at this time.

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County leaders sayBeLoved Ashevilleis taking donations, as well as providing food, water, diapers, and formula.

MANNA FoodBank is launching a critical donations and distribution effort at the WNC Farmers Market. Donations will be accepted Oct. 2-5 from 8 a.m.–noon. Items needed:

• Shelf-stable food (pop-top cans preferred, not requiring a can opener)
• Bottled water
• Baby and toddler formula and food
• Diapers

Haywood County

The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office says donations can be dropped off a Woodland Baptist Church, 545 Crabtree Road inWaynesville.Click here for a list of needed items and information about volunteering.

Monetary donations can be made to The United Way of Haywood County or mail a check to the following address:

United Way of Haywood County
PO Box 1139
Waynesville, NC 28786

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In Canton, donations are being accepted behind Town Hall (85 Summer Street). Donations will be relocated to IP Sports Complex for distribution. Needed items include:

• Non-perishable food and pop-top cans
• Water (gallon jugs)
• Baby formula, diapers, wipes
• Pet food
• Toiletries (toothpaste, deodorant)
• First aid supplies
• Feminine products
• Soap, sanitizer, paper towels, cleaning supplies
• New socks and underwear
• Batteries (AA, C, D)
• Rope and tarps
• Gloves (nitrile, latex, leather)
• Shovels
• Bar and chain oil
• small propane tanks

Those wishing to volunteer can also gather at the IP Sports Complex. For information, call Byron Hickox at 828-734-3946.

Henderson County

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) asks those donating to utilize the newly establisheddonation drop-off site at 118 McAbee Court, Flat Rock, N.C.

The HCSO said todrop donated items at the distribution center at McAbee Courtandnot directly at the six other resource sitesthat have been established, as Henderson County has employees working at the distribution center who will accept the donations and distribute them to the six other resource sites for the public to pick up.

McAbee Court is for donation drop-offs only.

Non-perishable food items, such as bottled water, toiletries, and baby powder formula, are accepted, though the site does not accept perishable food or new/used clothing items.

Please visit the Hendersonville Helene Reliefwebsitefor thefull list of acceptable donations.

Additionally, Henderson County has launched aWellness Check Status Mapformissing contacts. This map shows individuals whose location and safety are unknown in red, while the blue dots show contacts that have been made.

Please check the map to see if you are listed or if you know the whereabouts of anyone on this map. Please call (828) 771-6670 to notify Henderson County of updates on anyone’s status.

McDowell County

For those looking to assist in recovery efforts, ways to contribute are listed below:

Volunteer Line:Call our Citizen Volunteer Coordinator at (828) 559-9731 to learn how you can help.

Donation Drop Point:Donations of essential supplies can be delivered to the Universal Advanced Manufacturing Center, located at 634 College Drive, Marion, N.C. The following are acceptable items:

• Bottled water
• Baby supplies (diapers, wipes, etc.)
• Non-perishable food items
• Drop-off hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

Polk County

For those who wish to make donations in Polk County but are physically unable to do so, donations and supplies can now be shipped via Tryon International at 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, N.C.

Those interested in making a financial contribution to recovery efforts may write a check to the Green River Foundation and mail it to the above address with “Hurricane Helene relief” in the memo.

100% of donations will go to relief efforts in Polk, Rutherford, Henderson and Buncombe counties in N.C. and Spartanburg County, S.C. 100% of the contributions will be tax deductible.

Transylvania County

The sheriff’s office says Anchor Baptist is coordinating volunteer efforts and is accepting donations to support those efforts. Reach out to Anchor Baptist directly with donations or volunteer availability. They will be coordinating to help distribute public resources of food, water and other supplies.

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News 13 will update this list as additional information becomes available.