As Hurricane Helene's aftermath continues to unfold, Hoosiers across central Indiana are pitching in with relief efforts, providing aid to those in storm-stricken states like North Carolina and Tennessee. Local churches, food banks, and various organizations have mobilized to deliver critical supplies and support to affected communities.
Senior Pastor Daniel Parnell of East Street Apostolic Church in Indianapolis is leading his congregation's efforts to collect donations, driven partly by the personal connections many have to the ravaged regions. "When I saw all the pictures and videos that were starting to come through about the disaster and what they are going through, my heart just felt compelled to try and lead our church in an effort to gather supplies," Parnell told FOX59. The church is collecting everyday items, from canned goods to baby formula, to address the immediate needs of those impacted by the hurricane.
Further efforts involve the Indiana Task Force 1 and Indiana National Guard, which have been deployed to assist with recovery operations, particularly in North Carolina—a state hit hard by Helene's wrath. As detailed by WTHR, these groups are conducting search and rescue missions and facilitating the distribution of supplies.
Indiana's Gleaners Food Bank, part of the Feeding America network, has sent disaster relief boxes to aid those in stricken areas. Joe Slater, the Chief Operating Officer at Gleaners, noted the logistic challenges in reaching those affected: "The problem is getting it from those staging areas actually to the people affected, so that kind of last-mile work, if you will, is the tough part," he explained to FOX59. They are working on solutions to ensure resources make it into the hands of those in need.
For those looking to support disaster relief from a distance, Catholic Charities Indianapolis suggests making online donations. The community's collaborative response extends to local power companies, with Indiana linemen heading to affected areas to restore electricity, according to WTHR.
Additionally, The Indianapolis Red Cross is contributing to relief efforts by sending disaster workers to North Carolina, as reported by WRTV.
For those who want to contribute financially, a Red Cross donation can be made with a simple text message, stating another way to extend a helping hand to our fellow Americans in a time of dire need.
