The catastrophic devastation that has occurred from Hurricane Helene is heartbreaking. TEMA (at the moment) recommends monetary donations due to the inability to deliver supplies directly in many areas with impassable roads, but there are currently numerous supply drives occurring around Knoxville as well. Most supply drives are on a time constraint, but please share in the comments if you know of any.
Below are ways to help Tennessee and North Carolina flooding victims with donations of money and supplies.
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF EAST TENNESSEE
Water drop-offs are being accepted at its Maryville warehouse, 136 Harvest Lane, Maryville, TN 37801. Monetary donations will be used to purchase food, water, and other needs.
LOUDON COUNTY, MARYVILLE CITY, AND BLOUNT COUNTY SCHOOLS
All of these school districts are taking supply donations, but they must be in by the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 1.
EAST TENNESSEE FOUNDATION
“This fund provides prompt and effective grants to empower local nonprofits and agencies to rescue and recover their own communities amid devastating impacts from Hurricane Helene.” Give online here.
UNITED CAJUN NAVY
They are a group of volunteers who work tirelessly without pay to provide immediate rescue and relief during natural disasters. You can donate to their relief efforts here.
SALVATION ARMY
They currently have a base set up in Johnson City. Donations can be made online at helpsalvationarmy.org or by phone at 800-SAL-ARMY.
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Donate by texting HELENE to 90999, or go to redcross.org/donate/donation.html.
SCRUFFY CITY HALL/PRESERVATION PUB/BERNADETTE’S
Drop off bottled water at Preservation Pub, 28 Market Square in Knoxville, through 3 p.m. Oct. 1.
YASSIN’S FALAFEL HOUSE
Donate online through the Yassin’s campaign LaunchGood.com/Hurricanecommunityhelp. Collection of supplies also starts Sept. 30 at all Yassin’s Falafel House locations. Items they are collecting include:
- Food: Water, healthy beverages, ready-to-eat meals, snacks
- Hygiene: Toiletries, sanitation kits, feminine hygiene products
- Pet food
- Child care: Diapers, formula, baby wipes
YMCA OF EAST TENNESSEE
All YMCA of East Tennessee locations are accepting donations of water, flashlights, batteries and portable phone chargers for flooding victims. Donations can be dropped off at any Knoxville Y location by Oct. 2. Supplies will be delivered to the Unicoi YMCA on Oct. 3.
KNOX COUNTY ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS
They are collecting water donations at 205 W. Baxter Ave. in Knoxville.
EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
ETSU in Johnson City is serving as a collection site and hosting a community blood drive in partnership with Marsh Regional Blood Center. Items are being requested for cleanup kits and hygiene kits. More information can be found at the link above.
THE BIRDHOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
Located at 800 N. Fourth Ave., they are having relief drives 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 2 and Oct. 4. Donations of bottled water, protein bars, dried fruit, jerky, medical supplies, battery packs and chargers for cell phones and generators (to give or loan) can be dropped off.
TRUAN EQUIPMENT COMPANY
They have a trailer at 4909 Ball Rd. in Knoxville to collect supplies through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
KNOX COUNTY SHERRIF’S OFFICE
They are collecting supply donations at the North Precinct, East Precinct, and West Precinct.
PIGEON FORGE
They are collecting items throughout the week to help flood victims. Donations will be accepted 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily Oct. 1-5 at the LeConte Center’s front/events entrance, 2986 Teaster Lane.
Items needed include buckets with lids, tarps, shovels, rakes, trash bags, work gloves, masks (including dust masks), disinfecting wipes, bottled water, baby formula, baby food, baby wipes, prepackaged snacks, diapers, can openers, first aid supplies, personal hygiene items, kitty litter, new socks and underwear, clean towels and blankets, laundry detergent, pet food, kitty litter and hand sanitizer. Donations of used clothing will not be accepted.
FOOD CITY
Customers at all Food City stores can donate funds at checkout Oct. 1-12 to benefit the United Ways of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia disaster relief funds.
FACE AMUSEMENT
FACE Amusement is collecting donations of supplies for Western North Carolina and East Tennessee flood victims 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 30-Oct. 4 at 5034 Bobby Hicks Highway, Johnson City.
