Acts of kindness: Help flows in after Hurricane Helene

• FEMA: Staff heads into neighborhoods to help Augusta storm victims
• ‘Bright sense of optimism’: Augusta turns a corner in Helene recovery
• Augusta: City drops curfew that was imposed after Helene
• Electricity: After fixing Helene’s outages, utilities brace for Milton

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Here’s a look at some donations and other acts of kindness in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene:

• CSRA Rotary Clubs on Monday presented $25,000 in disaster grant funds to local charities. They included $16,250 Columbia County Cares and $8,750 to McDuffie Manna Inc.
• AT&T is contributing $25,000 to Golden Harvest Food Bank to assist Georgia communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Following Hurricane Helene, Golden Harvest has ed communities impacted by the storm by hosting food distributions and providing access to food and resources for those in need. “This contribution will play a critical role in ing our Hurricane Helene relief efforts. It enables us to deliver much-needed food, water, and shelf-stable meals to communities facing prolonged shortages of basic necessities,” said Amy Breitmann, president and CEO of Golden Harvest.
• The United House of Prayer for All People says 1,115 individuals from 428 different families in the Augusta area received donations from the national congregations to aid with disaster relief following the impact of Hurricane Helene. Bishop A.D. Cunningham, national head of the Christian organization, directly oversaw the collection and distribution as well as encouraged the donations.
• The Verizon Foundation has announced a $2 million donation to aid communities devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The foundation said $1 million will go to the American Red Cross, while the remaining $1 million will be distributed among local organizations in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. Locally, that includes $100,000 to Community Foundation for the CSRA.
• The Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association is sending essential supplies to Aiken Electric Cooperative for disaster relief following Hurricane Helene. The truck will arrive Oct. 12 for delivery in Edgefield and Aiken. The semi will carry at least 14 pallets of water, two pallets of adult diapers, and approximately 44 generators, with the potential to add more water if space permits. Gary L. Stooksbury, CEO of Aiken Electric Cooperative, expressed his deep appreciation: “We are truly grateful for the generosity and from our Co-op Nation during this time of restoration following Hurricane Helene.”
• Responding to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, over $4.5 million has been contributed to the One SC Fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation including a $2.5 million grant from the Duke Endowment. The One SC Fund provides financial to nonprofits responding to Hurricane Helene in the South Carolina counties with a FEMA disaster designation. The One SC Fund is South Carolina’s statewide philanthropic response to natural disasters and was activated on Oct. 1.
• Since Hurricane Helene devastated the Southeast, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with Nitti Beatz and local residents, has mobilized to the affected communities of Uvalda and Augusta. Donations began Oct. 2, with the first truckload sent to Uvalda on Oct. 5, delivering pallets of water, non-perishable meal kits, cleaning supplies, diapers, toiletries, and pet food. On Oct. 10, a second convoy with similar items is heading to Bethel AME Church in Augusta for additional distribution.
• In what will be a long road to recovery, Bojangles is doing its part to relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Helene, with the devastation hitting close to home for the Carolina-born brand. The Bojangles Foundation presented the American Red Cross with a $25,000 donation on Thursday, with funds directed toward on-the-ground aid. Additionally, Bojangles filled two tractor truckloads with bottled water, which are being delivered to access points in affected areas this week. The chain is also inviting customers to show their love for impacted neighbors by bringing back its beloved Heart-Shaped Bo-Berry Biscuits. From Oct. 7-31, 10% of net sales of the sweet confection at participating restaurants will be donated to the American Red Cross.
• Augusta Mayor Garnett L. Johnson and DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond signed a mutual aid agreement on Oct. 2 for emergency assistance. Thurmond and the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners sent 5,000 boxes of food and emergency supplies in of Augusta-Richmond County’s Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. “DeKalb County is honored to Mayor Johnson and our neighbors in Augusta who are struggling to recover from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene,” Thurmond said.
• Georgia Power, Southern Co. and Southern Company Gas charitable foundations will donate $3 million to aid Hurricane Helene relief efforts. The historic, destructive storm has devastated communities across the Southeast. As the companies continue to rebuild and restore service to impacted communities, they stand together in the effort to help those communities affected by the widespread storm and flood damage.
• In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, FPL Food announced the donation of 78,000 pounds of ground beef patties to the Augusta. The frozen ground beef patties were available at several locations on Friday.
• Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, in partnership with the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area, announced a t $5 million donation toward the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund. The fund will local relief efforts in response to the devastating impact of the storm throughout the greater Augusta community. Online donations to the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund can be made through the Community Foundation website: cfcsra.org.
• Comcast NBCUniversal is providing $600,000 worth of cash donations and advertising time for public service announcements to community organizations in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The money includes $100,000 to the United Way of Augusta CSRA.
• AT&T is contributing $300,000 to assist communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. This will be directed to various organizations across the affected states, including: Golden Harvest Food Bank ($25,000)
• Food Lion is donating $1.5 million to the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and is encouraging customers to them by donating at the from now through Oct. 30. The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation will distribute the funds to partner feeding organizations.
• Walmart, Sam’s Club, and the Walmart Foundation have increased their commitment to Hurricane Helene relief to $10 million. Included is a grant to the Second Harvest Food Bank and a grant to the United Way of the CSRA to help Georgians recover from Hurricane Helene. The Walmart Foundation is also announcing a grant to Operation BBQ Relief and a grant to the Salvation Army Southern Territory, as well as an investment in Team Rubicon, who has been on the ground helping clear routes and clean up debris. Also, $2.5 million will be donated to the American Red Cross through the customer donation match program. There will be mobile deployments including shower, laundry, restrooms and food.
• After activating the One SC Fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation, donors have committed $1 million to nonprofit organizations across South Carolina providing Hurricane Helene relief and recovery. Donors include: Walmart Foundation - $400,000, Dominion Energy - $300,000, Duke Energy Foundation has issued a challenge, matching donations made to the One SC Fund up to $100,000, AT&T - $50,000, Spectrum - $50,000 and Verizon - $50,000.

RESOURCES FOR YOU:

• Free food: Where to get it across the CSRA
• What’s open? Gas stations, restaurants and grocery stores in the CSRA
• Shelter: Where to go if Helene impacted you in the CSRA

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