Southeastern Communities Struggling to Recover After Hurricanes Helene and Milton Hit Back-to-Back 

Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in Florida, hitting an already struggling Gulf Coast with wind speeds of 100 miles per hour and dangerous storm surges. This came within two weeks of Hurricane Helene inundating communities from Florida to Tennessee with storm surge and heavy rainfall. Helene has also claimed the lives of nearly 250 people across the Southeast. 

Many communities are still struggling with access issues, a lack of power and water, and school closures. There are also thousands of people still displaced due to severe damage or complete destruction of their homes.

Your help is urgently needed to send emergency aid and supplies to those in need.

Greater Good Charities' team members are on the ground in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina and have already deployed and distributed 130 truckloads containing over 2,600 tons of essential aid throughout the Southeast. They've distributed more than $7.8 million in aid to over 50 of the hardest hit communities. In partnership with GreaterGood and The Animal Rescue Site, they're currently providing the following:

• Good Packs with essential supplies
• Pet Food
• Hygiene kits
• Medication
• Supplies for impacted beekeepers
• Medical care for injured pets
• Transportation for pets in shelters

Helene was the most severe storm of the season to hit the United States, and Milton only worsened the impacts. Please help those affected by these hurricanes and donate today.

Updates from the Field

Monday, 10/14/24

Pet Supplies, Diapers, Towels Delivered. We helped deliver pet food, cat litter, and rapid tests for pet diseases to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Animal Care and Control Division in North Carolina. These are essential for shelters and other organizations trying to help displaced dogs and cats. 

Diapers donated by SCV Pregnancy Center and 1,200 towels from Nomadix were also delivered to Asheville Humane Society, which is serving as a community distribution hub. Further deliveries included a truck of Clorox bleach to Feeding Tampa Bay, a truck of pet crates from Chewy to Henry’s House in Georgia, a truck of cat food and treats donated by MPM to Lucky Dog Animal Rescue in South Carolina, 17 pallets of Tidy Cat litter from Purina to Nashville Humane Association, and a truck of Purina dog and cat food to SOS Rescue in Georgia. 

Wednesday, 10/9/24

Prepping for Milton's Impact & Helping Bees. Greater Good Charities team members were on the ground in Florida to help partners prepare for Hurricane Milton, set to hit portions of Florida that were already rocked by Helene. Trucks were ready to deploy after Milton’s landfall. We’ve also been working with Mann Lake Bee & Ag Supply to provide beekeepers with emergency feed, after tens of thousands of hives were lost due to Helene. Damaged vegetation and crops also mean food for bees is scarce.

Monday, 10/7/24

Emergency Supplies Delivered By Air. Over the weekend, the ground team brought more supplies to the Asheville area and spoke with partners and residents to determine their needs. We’re working to supply basics - like hygiene items and pet food - to makeshift “food and supply banks” that have been popping up. We also partnered with Southwest Airlines to fly a plane of essential supplies and emergency packs to help thousands of displaced and impacted families in and around Asheville. 

Friday, 10/4/24

Supply Trucks Arrive in Asheville. Five trucks filled with supplies, including pet food and cat litter, were unloaded by a Greater Good Charities team at the Asheville Humane Society. Those items were then distributed to impacted residents. Team members also delivered items to outlying communities with limited access. More supplies are on the way, while further needs are being determined.

Thursday, 10/3/24

On the Ground in Western N.C.

The ground team is in Asheville, NC and the surrounding areas, delivering much-needed supplies to partner organizations and members of the community.

The team delivered essential items like water, hygiene supplies, and pet food to the community center, which is serving as the staging ground for food and supplies, and as a gathering spot for displaced families.

Those who are able to leave their homes are arriving at the community center to get whatever is available, including the baggies of dog food, gasoline, flip flops, socks, underwear, and personal hygiene products our team delivered. We also brought treats to help occupy the kids who had to come with their parents since schools are closed indefinitely. For the families who can’t leave their homes or won’t leave their pets behind, we are working with a local group that are traveling door-to-door, delivering pet food and checking to see what else people need.

Wednesday, 10/2/24

Emergency Airlift of the Shelter Pets. Today we flew 125 shelter pets in an emergency evacuation out of South Carolina to Wisconsin. This lifesaving flight carried shelter dogs and cats who were in shelters prior to the storm to a chance at a new home. By moving these pets, the shelters now have room and the ability to care for the influx of lost and displaced pets from the storm until they can reunited with their families.

Tuesday, 10/1/24

Humanitarian Aid Shipped to North Carolina. As the scale of destruction in Western, N.C. is becoming more clear, our team is working quickly to send critical supplies. Thanks to partners, we are sending trucks of supplies into the region that contains Hydroboost Water, Bombas socks, feminine hygiene products, emergency packs full of essential supplies and more. Additional team members are now on the ground in North Carolina to assist as needed.

Monday, 9/30/24

Hygiene Kits Delivered. Greater Good Charities is on the ground distributing 5,000 urgently needed hygiene kits, with the help of our partners. These kits will be delivered to 10 counties in the Tampa Bay area, FL, serving a large population of families impacted by the storm.

Veterinary Care for Injured Pets.

The team is working to establish pet pharmaceutical donation hubs and are identifying veterinary needs in impacted communities across several states.

In addition to pharmaceutical care, we are funding emergency medical aid to rescued pets suffering from broken bones, trauma, dehydration, and other life-threatening injuries.

Greater Good Charities has ultimate authority and discretion with regard to the distribution of its funds. All expenditures made are consistent with the exempt purposes of Greater Good Charities.