We’ve activated our disaster response plans in support of counties recovering from Hurricane Helene.
Delivery trucks and mobile refrigeration units are fueled up; staff and volunteers are readying emergency kits; and our commercial kitchen is in high gear preparing ready-to-go meals for impacted families. We’re actively working to connect emergency responders and our sister food banks with additional nonperishable food, water, and supplies to support communities across the 25-county disaster area and the lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
With widespread road closures and diminished food assistance infrastructure throughout Western North Carolina, our efforts are focused on matching products with community-specific needs and distribution capacity.
Resources for Impacted Families
Emergency Financial Assistance
Federal Disaster Assistance programs offer financial support for individuals and businesses. If you’ve been impacted by Helene, be sure to apply online or call 800-621-3362. More than 83,000 neighbors have applied so far, with submissions due November 27.
Replacement Food Benefits
If you receive North Carolina Food & Nutrition Services benefits (sometimes called “FNS” or “SNAP”), funds are available to replace groceries lost due to the storm. Learn more here or contact our Benefits Outreach Team for details.
Shelters
More than a dozen shelters are now open to individuals and families whose homes have been damaged by the storm. These facilities are also equipped with power and internet access to help families connect with loved ones.
Food Assistance Sites
Emergency food assistance stations are active in impacted counties — providing meals, nonperishable food, water, and basic necessities to local residents. Current locations include:
- Ashe County – Westwood Elementary School, Mountain View Elementary School
- Buncombe County – UNC-Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Tech Ferguson, WNC Ag. Center, Asheville-Buncombe Tech Conference Center, Biltmore Baptist Church, The Greens at Weaverville, Fletcher Nursing and Rehabilitation.
- Catawba County – Catawba Valley Community College Tarlton Complex
- Henderson County – First Baptist Church Hendersonville, Greens at Hendersonville
- Madison County – Madison County Cooperative Extension Service
- McDowell County – Nebo Crossing Church, Grace Community Church
- Mitchell County – First Baptist Spruce Pine
- Polk County – Polk County High School
- Rowan County – Rowan-Cabarrus YMCA
- Watauga County – Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Zionville VFD, Foscoe Christian Church, Watauga EOC, Holmes Convocation Center, Meat Camp Road, Town of Boone PD, First Baptist Boone.
Hotlines
Essential Resources
Dial 2-1-1 or call 888-892-1162 for shelters, food assistance, welfare checks and additional storm recovery help.
Crisis Clean-up Helpline
Call 844-965-1386 (through October 11) or enter details online
Support for Disaster Response
We Have Their Backs
With the Central and Eastern regions spared from the worst of the storm, we’re focused on connecting hard-hit communities in Western North Carolina with ready-to-go meals, nonperishable food, water, and other essential supplies.
Rebuilding in Western NC
Our friends at MANNA Food Bank in Asheville were particularly hard-hit, with their central warehouse and headquarters rendered totally inoperable due to massive flooding. If you’re able, please join us in supporting MANNA’s efforts to set up temporary distribution sites and bring their warehouse back online.
Centralized Response Fund
Disasters create hardship and leave community members vulnerable, especially those who are already food insecure. Our network provides emergency food, water, and other essential resources in the immediate aftermath of a disaster — and we’re able to prioritize longer-term recovery assistance and hope as our communities work to rebuild.
Food Banks are coming together with our state association, Feeding the Carolinas, to deploy disaster relief funds and supplies. If you’re fortunate enough to be outside of the storm’s path, please do what you can to support our neighbors in need. It takes all of us to regroup, recover, and rebuild!
Food & Supplies Donations
At this point, partners on the ground in Western North Carolina are not equipped to accept consumer-donated food – and travel to the region, beyond first-responders, is strongly discouraged.
Financial donations are the fastest and most effective way to connect impacted families with food and supplies. For every dollar donated, food banks can provide multiple meals of food — far more than any individual can purchase at retail prices. We’re also able to tailor products and shipments to match local needs and capacity.
If you represent a company or organization that is able to compile significant quantities (pallets or greater), the following products are in highest demand in the immediate aftermath of a storm when families often do not have regular access to power and cooking fuel.
- Water (gallons or other large containers)
- Peanut butter and jams (larger plastic jars)
- Chicken, tuna, or salmon (in pouches or pop-top cans)
- Ravioli and other ready-to-heat meals (in pop-top cans)
- Crackers (boxes or sealed containers)
- Dried or canned fruit (sealed containers or pop-top cans)
- Granola or protein bars (boxes with individually-wrapped contents)
Want to pitch in? Reach out to our food sourcing team to discuss product availability and logistics.
Find Food & Essential Resources After the Storm
Our network of pantries, no-cost markets, meal sites, and delivery programs moves mountains to ensure everyone in our communities has access to food and other essential resources in the wake of a storm.
Use our FoodFinder tool to find locations and hours of operation near you – and be sure to call ahead if there’s any concern that your local site may be impacted by the storm.
