Hurricanes Helene & Milton response

Hurricane Helene response

Hurricanes Helene and Milton have left entire communities across the Southeast devastated and tens of thousands of families and pets across multiple states in desperate need of help.

Greater Good Charities has mobilized a massive response to the need, including 130 trucks with food, water, hygiene products, pet supplies, and more—delivering over $7.8MM+ worth of critically needed aid to over 50 hard-hit communities, including small, hard-to-reach areas. We're also providing bee pollen substitute, sugar, and syrup to beekeepers impacted by the storm. Our teams are working tirelessly with local partners to meet urgent needs for people, pets, and the environment.

The devastation has touched every corner of these communities, and the need we’re hearing from those impacted is truly overwhelming.

CURRENT UPDATES

Saturday, 10/19/24

Feeding Starving Bees - Today, Greater Good Charities, Mann Lake, Cargill, and the Florida Beekeepers Association joined forces to donate and deliver 41,000 gallons of syrup and nearly 40,000 pounds of bee pollen substitute to hundreds of beekeepers impacted by recent hurricanes Helene and Milton.

This emergency donation event in Winter Haven, Fla. is part of a larger mission and series of distribution events to help feed the billions of bees impacted by the storms. The bees are at risk of starving to death because the storms wiped out their natural forage. These distributions will help sustain the bees and help beekeepers recover from the devastation.

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Friday, 10/18/24

In Treasure Coast, Fla., an area hit hard by tornadoes due to Hurricane Milton, the Greater Good Charities conducted a small distribution of bee pollen substitute and syrup for impacted beekeepers.

Through the southeast, Greater Good Charities trucks continued to deliver food and supplies, including flea and tick treatments for cats and dogs to Charlotte-Mecklenburg's Animal Care and Control Division in North Carolina today, which is serving hard-hit N.C. communities.

One truck of dog food is arriving at Nashville Humane Association in Tennessee today, while another is shipping to Coffee Cause for Paws in Coffee County, Georgia.

Monday, 10/14/24

Supplies Continue to Arrive Across the Southeast - Greater Good Charities coordinated delivery of pet food and cat litter from PetSmart, along with more SNAP tests from Idexx to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department: Animal Care and Control Division in North Carolina. These rapid tests for major diseases are an essential tool for organizations trying to help care for cats and dogs displaced by the hurricanes.

A truck of much-needed diapers donated by the SCV Pregnancy Center and 1,200 towels from Nomadix were delivered to Asheville Humane Society, which is serving as a community distribution hub for the surrounding communities.

As communities pinpoint gaps in supplies, we continue to get requests and were able to coordinate a number of additional deliveries today, including:

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 wet and dry cat food and treats from donor MPM to Lucky Dog Animal Rescue in South Carolina
17 pallets of Tidy Cat litter from Purina to Nashville Humane Association
A truck of Purina cat and dog food to SOS Rescue in Georgia

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Wednesday, 10/9/24

On the Ground in Florida, Preparing for Milton
Greater Good Charities' team is in Florida, helping partners prepare for the storm. We've already moved truckloads of humanitarian and pet supplies to areas impacted by Helene and have more trucks en route to support once Milton makes landfall. As we've been working with Mann Lake and Florida Beekeeper's Association to help feed bees impacted by Helene, now Milton threatens remaining bees. We will continue those efforts immediately once Milton passes through and we assess the updated situation.

Tuesday, 10/8/24

Bringing Supplies to Outlying Areas
While understandably much attention has been focused on Asheville, many areas nearby still need help as residents are unable to travel to the town for supplies. Greater Good Charities delivered the supplies flown in on Monday. Our team stationed there remains committed to continuing to bring in aid and more Greater Good Charities trucks have arrived in the area bringing pet food, pet supplies, crates, Clorox bleach, and more.

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Monday, 10/7/24

Humanitarian Supplies Flight
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Greater Good Charities, in partnership with Southwest Airlines®, loaded a plane full of humanitarian supplies—including shampoo, hygiene products, and emergency packs (mylar blankets, socks, laundry sheets, and more)—to support thousands of displaced and impacted families in Asheville, NC, and surrounding communities. Our team has been on the ground delivering essential supplies, and this latest shipment helps us meet the growing need for relief. Thank you, Southwest Airlines®, for stepping in to transport these

Saturday, 10/5/24 - Sunday, 10/6/24

Areas Around Asheville Need Help
Our team is following the need. As roads open up and communications come back online, our partners share needs they are hearing from other nearby areas. We're going in, bringing supplies, talking to residents, and better understanding the situation. Many makeshift "food and supply banks" are popping up and we're working to supply them with basics - hygiene items, pet food, and more. More Greater Good Charities trucks are on the way.

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Friday, 10/4/24

Delivery of Supplies to Asheville area -
The first 5 trucks of supplies including pet food and cat litter arrived in Asheville today, where our team was ready and waiting to unload at the Asheville Humane Society for community distribution. The Greater Good Charities field operations team went on to distribute these much needed supplies to the outlying communities in the area, many of which are still struggling with access. More supplies will be delivered Monday, and our team will spend the weekend assessing the needs of stricken areas and delivering supplies, with more to come.

Thursday, 10/3/24

On the Ground in Western, NC. Our team is on the ground today in Asheville, N.C. and the surrounding area to bring much-needed supplies and assistance to partners and the community.

We 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 traveling door-to-door, delivering pet food and checking to see what else people need.

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Wednesday, 10/2/24

Emergency Airlift of Shelter Pets - Today our team flew 125 shelter pets in an emergency transport from 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.

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Tuesday, 10/1/24

Bees are at Risk of Starvation - Our team continues to coordinate with beekeepers and state beekeepers' associations across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, and the plight of bees is grim as the vegetation they depend upon for forage is destroyed. Our partners at Mann Lake are working with us to mobilize a distribution of bee pollen substitute and syrup to feed the bees across the Southeast.

Humanitarian Aid Shipped to North Carolina - Communications are coming back online in Western NC and critical needs are emerging for 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.

Pet Food & Supplies Shipped to Communities - As supplies dwindle in communities impacted by the storm, Greater Good Charities is sending 16,500 lbs of pet food from Mars and Champion Pet Food to partners in Florida to distribute to the community and local shelters and rescues. Additional trucks are en route to Southeast states, including Asheville, NC area.

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Monday, 9/30/24

Hygiene Kits - 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.

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Supporting Beekeepers - We are working with Mann Lake, the Florida State Beekeepers Association, and others to assess the need and provide temporary food to save bees in the area since Hurricane Helene has wiped out vegetation and hive infrastructure for beekeepers and bees in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and surrounding states. With no forage, millions of the bees that pollinate food crops are at risk of starvation.

Our field team in Florida headed up to Ocala with much-needed supplies for the beekeepers and met with the Florida State Beekeepers Association for further discussion around helping impacted bees and beekeepers across the state.

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Veterinary Care for Injured Pets - We are working to establish pet pharmaceutical donation hubs and identify veterinary needs in impacted communities in multiple states. Wellness care is crucial in the aftermath of a storm when disease spreads more easily to pets due to reasons like contaminated floodwaters and increased wildlife encounters. SPCA Florida, based in Lakeland, Fla. will be one of our pet pharmaceutical hubs.

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.

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Sunday, 9/29/24

North Carolina Assessment - Our staff is mobilizing in North Carolina to assess the extensive damage caused by severe flooding and mudslides. Roads are impassable, and power outages remain widespread. The situation is critical with at least 30 dead and 1,000 reported missing in Western NC. Local authorities are still conducting emergency rescues, and many residents are still trapped in their homes. The need for immediate assistance is urgent.

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Hygiene Kits in Florida - Our team on the ground in Florida is tirelessly working at our temporary distribution center in Winter Haven, Fla., to receive critical shipments of aid. We're preparing 5,000 hygiene kits thanks to our partners at The WASH Foundation. These will be distributed in Trinity, Fla., through Feeding Tampa Bay, where countless people and pets have been severely impacted by the storm. Immediate relief is essential.

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Agencies across the Southeast still assessing damage and need - Greater Good Charities is actively coordinating with state and local officials, as well as partners across Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Florida, to assess urgent needs in the wake of the disaster.

Saturday, 9/28/24

Distribution of Supplies to Impacted Communities - Our Field Operations team in Florida expands with the addition of trusted volunteers who will accompany the team throughout the week. The team distributed emergency packs Greater Good Charities sent to Florida in advance of the storm earlier this week. The packs contain essential supplies for displaced and impacted families and were given out during an event hosted by our local partner, Feeding Tampa Bay. The organization serves 10 surrounding countries experiencing flooding, extreme wind damage and power outages.

Facing Challenges Across the Region Assessing Damage and Need - Greater Good Charities team members across the nation are working throughout the weekend to check in with partners in the Southeast to determine need. The devastation is widespread, with many agencies not yet having a handle on how bad their communities were impacted due to extensive power outages, unreliable communication, downed trees, impassable roads and catastrophic flooding.

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Flying Pets to Safety - As communities assess the storm's impact, there is an urgent need to transport shelter pets out of devastated communities to make room for lost or displaced pets from the storm. Our expert transport team and partners have quickly mobilized a flight from South Carolina to Wisconsin to carry shelter pets to areas with resources to care for them and find forever homes. The flight is scheduled for Wednesday, October 2.

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Friday, 9/27/24

Team Members on the Ground in Western North Carolina - Our Field Operations Director, Leigh, checks in from Western North Carolina where the impact is catastrophic, with dozens of people dead and more than 1,000 still missing.

Corporate Partners Have Stepped Up - ready to help Greater Good Charities assist communities in need. Thanks to these generous donations, we’re shipping hundreds of cases of Smuckers’ Jif peanut butter and a truckload of Hydroboost water from Nestle, arriving to our partners in the coming days.

5,000 hygiene kits from our partners at The WASH Foundation arrived in Winter Haven, Fla. For distribution to people and pets impacted by the storm.

During disasters, parasite prevention for dogs and cats is critical to avoid the spread of disease and illness among owned and shelter pets. Thanks to our partners at Hartz Pet Care, we shipped 2,000 doses of flea and tick medication to Venice, Fla. for pets served by Pet Project for Pets.

Thursday, 9/26/24

On the Ground Before the Storm - After helping with preparations all day on the Gulf coast, the Greater Good Charities team made its way West to ride out the storm and will be headed early Friday to Tampa to assess needs and solidify a plan based on overnight impact.

Moving Shelter Pets to Safety - Greater Good Charities' team on the ground in Florida pitched in to help Florida SPCA move more than 100 shelter pets that were in the path of the storm out of harm's way. Loading up vans of pets, the emergency, last minute transport undoubtedly saved these shelter pets' lives, making sure they were safe and ready for their new homes.

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Wednesday, 9/25/24

Greater Good Charities' Field Operations Team is on the Ground in Florida in advance of Hurricane Helene, working with our logistics teams and partners across the country to prep and ship pallets of humanitarian supplies and pet food and supplies to multiple locations in Florida to be ready for the storm's aftermath.

Greater Good Charities’ disaster response team monitors global crises year-round. When we identify a disaster, we reach out to partners on the ground, including our thousands of partners around the globe. We maintain a disaster fund and caches of product around the U.S., which allows for us to provide immediate relief in the form of cash and product grants when possible. In the case of natural disasters, our programs are sometimes activated in advance to do things like fly pets out of harm’s way or move humanitarian and animal welfare supplies in. When we respond to disaster, we take into account the longevity of the event, and make sure we reserve resources when needed.