Hurricane Helene Updates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Augusta, GA, October 10, 2024

On Friday, September 27, the Community Foundation established the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund to support immediate as well as long-term recovery needs of our community after the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene on the Augusta region.

The Community Foundation for the CSRA (CFCSRA) is no stranger to playing an essential role in disaster relief and recovery in our community. Since the day after the storm, our team has been working tirelessly and in close collaboration with local leaders, community partners, nonprofit organizations and impacted individuals to understand the immediate response and to get a sense of the evolving priorities and unmet needs.

With the help of philanthropy-serving organizations such as Philanthropy Southeast, the Council on Foundations, and the Georgia Grantmakers Alliance spreading the word, donations began before our local team could even get out of our homes and check on loved ones. The lead gift of $5,000,000 from the Augusta National Golf Club and the Community Foundation was announced on Thursday, October 3, and, since then, millions more have been contributed by individuals, organizations, and foundations who want to help the Augusta community in a local and impactful way.

The Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund is pleased to announce the first round of rapid relief and response grants totaling $1,595,000.00 to the following nonprofit organizations:

ACTS
Augusta Locally Grown
Black Farm Street
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta
Community Ministries of North Augusta
Family Connections
The Family YMCA
Golden Harvest Food Bank
143 Ministries
Ronald McDonald House
The Salvation Army of Aiken
The Salvation Army Augusta Area Command
United Way of Aiken County
United Way of the CSRA

“These nonprofits are working daily on the front lines of this disaster, tarping roofs, cutting down trees, feeding and housing people, supplying generators and fuel, providing childcare so parents can get back to work, and so much more.” says Shell Berry, President and CEO of the Community Foundation. “While the stories we hear are heartbreaking, at the same time we see our nonprofit, business, and volunteer community coming together, rolling up their sleeves, and pitching in wherever needed. Although the need is almost beyond comprehension, basic needs are being met and miracles are happening each day.”

We are not done with the fundraising effort. This first phase of rapid relief and response will continue for the coming days. Over the next several months, we will move into the recovery and stabilization phase and will need support more than ever to put us on the path to rebuilding and community resilience.

To contribute to the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund, visit www.cfcsra.org.

October 6, 2024

October 4, 2024

Community Foundation for the CSRA (CFCSRA) is no stranger to playing an essential role in disaster relief and recovery in our community. We set up the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund to receive donations and support the day after the storm hit. Our program team and executive leadership have been on the phones daily talking directly to our nonprofit partners who are stepping up to provide critical supports to their neighbors. We will get financial support to those partners starting immediately.

In addition to mobilizing these donations, we can offer support in other ways by leveraging our experience and expertise to help organizations and civic leaders in all three stages of the post-disaster environment:

• Immediate Relief: In the initial aftermath of this disaster, CFCSRA, local government agencies, nonprofit service providers and volunteers are rallying to provide food, housing/shelter, water, medical care, transportation, direct financial assistance and other essentials to the community. In addition to our proactive efforts to assist and strengthen our known nonprofit partners, through the Community Crisis Fund, we are prepared to receive direct requests to support them with funding. And, of course, we will keep our ear to the ground on the true and evolving needs in over 10 counties in Georgia and South Carolina.
• Short-term Recovery: As we all know, press coverage and donations peak during the immediate relief stage. However, just when public attention begins to wane, critical recovery work begins. Philanthropic investments will help provide continued health and social services, including provision of safe drinking water, temporary or transitional shelter, and other services for the community at large. CFCSRA is committed to partnering with our donor community to keep the communities’ needs at the forefront of philanthropic support in the coming weeks and months of recovery.
• Long-term Rebuilding: In many communities hit by disaster, it can take several years to rebuild physical infrastructure, restore the natural environment, and rehabilitate the lives of those who are among the hardest hit. In this stage, the CFCSRA’s annual Community Grants program and targeted philanthropy can play a key role in addressing chronic social and environmental challenges in the community.

October 2, 2024

I hope this email reaches you despite all the challenges with power and internet access, and most importantly, that it finds you and your family safe. Like you, our team at the Community Foundation has been focused on making sure their loved ones are safe, assessing damage and literally trying to cut their way out of their homes or neighborhoods. At the same time, we have been working to set up a plan, in close communication with our nonprofit partners, for immediate assistance as well as long-term recovery.

We know that you are part of a community of helpers. You give to this community we love in innumerable ways. Whether you are a nonprofit leader or a donor to or volunteer for those nonprofits, your help matters now more than ever.

Right now, our city leaders and the Red Cross are focused on immediate recovery needs such as water, food, and shelter. As we move into the days ahead, we will get a better understanding of the ongoing needs, how federal and state funds will be deployed and where philanthropy will be most needed. For those of you who would like to give financial support to these efforts, we have established the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund (www.cfcsra.org) You most likely have friends reaching out to ask how they can help. This fund is one way they can support Augusta.

Supporting Community Foundations across the impacted areas are the best way to get dollars into the local communities. Their experienced teams know just where the funds are needed and can evaluate needs in real time. Our team is no different. The funds in our Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund will be deployed locally and rapidly for things like food, temporary as well as transitional housing, financial assistance, childcare and other critical needs. While we may not have the whole picture of what our community will need in the coming weeks, our team is the best in the business at figuring that out over the long road ahead. Remember that the Community Foundation for the CSRA is a 501c3 public charity and is the largest, most active grantmaker in the Augusta area. We do this every day.

If you are a nonprofit on the front lines serving our communities’ immediate, critical needs, please contact our programs team at rebeccawallace@cfcsra.org. We will be setting up an abridged process to get funding to those nonprofits serving the most pressing needs very quickly. Stay tuned for more information. We also understand that needs will change over time and we will adapt our process accordingly.

The HUB for Community Innovation is serving as a drop-off location and distribution site for donations of water, food, diapers, wipes, and other essential items. If you would like to donate, please drop off items between 10 AM and 3 PM daily. You can follow the HUB on Instagram @communityhubaugusta for updates on distribution events.

We are committed to walking through the aftermath of Helene alongside all of you. Together, we can rebuild a stronger community for all.

Much love,