The compassion and generosity of the American people is never more evident than during and after a disaster. It is individuals, non-profits, faith- and community-based organizations, private sector partners, and governmental agencies working together that will most effectively and efficiently help survivors cope with the impacts of the disaster.
Please follow a few important guidelines below to ensure your support can be the most helpful for disaster survivors.
The most effective way to support disaster survivors in their recovery is to donate money and time to trusted, reputable, voluntary or charitable organizations.
Cash donations offer voluntary agencies and faith-based organizations the most flexibility to address urgently developing needs. With cash in hand, these organizations can obtain needed resources nearer to the disaster location. This inflow of cash also pumps money back into the local economy and helps local businesses recover faster.
Donate through a trusted organization. The North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NC VOAD) has a list of vetted disaster relief organizations providing services to survivors. NC VOAD represents over fifty faith-based, community, nonprofit and non-governmental organizations.
In addition, at the national level, many voluntary-, faith- and community-based organizations are active in disasters, and are trusted ways to donate to disaster survivors. Individuals, corporations, and volunteers, can learn more about how to help on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) website.
If you have specific disaster-related items to donate or would like to see a list of disaster needs, visit our partner, VolunteerNC.