After the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene over the past week, we have received communications from Carolina Jews for Justice (CJJ) with information on how we can help the community. They share:

Most communications are down in Asheville and other parts of Western, NC. Much of the area is only accessible by air as most major roads are impassable. The damage from flooding, mudslides, and winds is unlike anything the region has ever seen. Our neighbors need us now, and will continue to need us in the months to come. 

In emergency activism there is the concept of “day one” actions, and then there is the long term. Today we are focusing on “day one,” but at CJJ, we know the work doesn’t end there. We will continue to provide opportunities for partnership with our neighbors in the weeks and months to come, as well as organize for the systemic change work needed to build community resilience in response to increasing climate crises. 

FEMA is now approved to provide air drops in Asheville, and the Red Cross is mobilizing their own large response. We also know that smaller, local organizations and efforts often know their own community’s greatest needs, and can sometimes operate more immediately and efficiently.  We are working with local organizers, including staff of CJJ, who can tell us what their community needs are on the ground. Below you will find a recommended list of mutual aid items as well as drop-off locations. Supplies will be delivered to Western NC on a rolling basis. We will continue to send email updates as opportunities arise.

We are in contact as best we can with CJJ members and beloved partners in Western NC, offering our assistance and support and will continue to be available to them.  Please reach out to us at CJJ if you or your family have particular needs related to this disaster.

If you are having trouble getting in touch with loved ones in western North Carolina, the American Red Cross recommends calling (800)-RED-CROSS, selecting “disaster” following the prompts for Helene/NC, and giving as much information as possible to assist the organization in potentially locating your missing loved one.

Monetary Donations = Direct Aid

Please consider making donations to the following mutual aid and support efforts or on-ground organizations, and please share widely:

Day One Relief is mobilizing and a trusted source sending direct aid via plane to hard hit spaces. *Monetary and Direct Item Give* Donate to Day One Relief

Operation Airdrop

Mutual Aid Disaster Relief

Triangle Mutual Aid (coordinating with Asheville Mutual Aid)

BeLoved Asheville – needs funds and is coordinating volunteers with trucks who can drive supplies to people, out of 32 Old Charlotte Hwy Asheville, NC

Organizing Resilience (benefits Down Home NC, and other rural organizers doing the deep, year-round work, and partaking in community assessment surveys right now)