Meeting Local needs

For example, United Way is recruiting volunteers to help chainsaw crews clear properties; help collect, sort, and pack food and supplies; and deliver essentials to local pantries and families. Along with local churches and schools, United Way is also a drop-off point for essential supplies, from food and baby supplies to batteries, cleaning supplies and first aid items.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, United Way of Henderson County has leaned into its longstanding relationships to lead relief efforts. “When the hurricane hit, and we lost power and cell service, it really came down to who you had in your phone contacts,” said Kat Carlton, Executive Director of United Way of Henderson County.

Tampa and surrounding Suncoast communities are no strangers to hurricanes, but Hurricane Helene brought a storm surge unlike anything seen in the last century. Jessica Muroff, CEO of United Way Suncoast, described the scale of the devastation as a “100-year storm-type surge.” It left thousands of families displaced, with 5-8 feet of water flooding homes, washing away vehicles, destroying necessities, and uprooting businesses.

Hurricane Helene steamrolled 500 miles of the Southeastern United States, leaving devastation in her wake. The storm made landfall late Sept. 26 as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, with up to 15 feet of storm surge. As it passed over Florida and Georgia, Helene weakened to a tropical storm over the Carolinas. But its wrath didn’t lessen.

Hurricane Helene has wreaked havoc across North Carolina, with mountain communities experiencing the greatest loss. Some 20-30 inches of rain over three days virtually destroyed entire towns, wiping out infrastructure and rendering roads impassable. Many families are grappling with the harsh reality of weeks without food, water, or shelter. And hundreds are still missing. In the chaos, United Way of North Carolina has been coordinating relief efforts, primarily focusing on people in the most isolated mountain hollers. The situation continues to be dire.

Human trafficking occurs when someone is compelled to work or engage in commercial sex through force, fraud, or coercion by a third-party exploiter, or when a minor is involved in commercial sex. Certain populations face an elevated risk of human trafficking due to systemic barriers, including economic and racial inequity.