Hurricane Helene claimed more than 100 lives in the U.S. and flooded countless homes in western North Carolina and across the southeast.

Duke is providing opportunities for our community to contribute to the relief effort, both through Duke and via partnerships with organizations involved in recovery work. More initiatives will be added to this page as they are established. If you have an addition, please submit it here.

— Duke’s Doing Good Employee Giving Campaign has activated an Emergency Relief option for this year’s campaign through December 31. All Doing Good funds go directly to the community causes employees select for their gifts. Through a longstanding partnership with the United Way of the Triangle, emergency relief funds will help rebuild communities affected by the storm.

Duke Divinity

— Duke Divinity School is partnering with the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church to coordinate volunteers and support other relief efforts. Find more information: https://divinity.duke.edu/wnc-relief

Duke Health

— Duke Eye Center has begun a supply drive running through Thursday 10/17.  

  • non-perishable food/MREs
  • bottled water
  • contractor-size trash bags
  • blankets
  • first aid supplies
  • feminine hygiene products
  • personal hygiene products
  • (toothbrushes/toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc.)
  • diapers, wipes
  • baby formula, bottles
  • baby clothes
  • hand sanitizer
  • toilet paper
  • paper towels
  • bleach and cleaning supplies
  • pet care items (food, collars, leashes)
  • shovels
  • brooms
  • work gloves
  • socks
  • coolers
  • flashlights
  • batteries
  • battery powered fans

Collection Site: AERI Auditorium at the main eye center 2351 Erwin Rd.   

8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays starting today, Tuesday, October 8 through Thursday, Oct. 17.

Contact Tori Hall with questions.

— The State Medical Assistance Team responds to disasters across North Carolina and is in need of volunteer RNs, NAs, paramedics, RTs, APPs, physicians and non-clinical staff. If you are interested in volunteering, please discuss with your supervisor and complete the volunteer signup form.

Volunteers may be deployed to the state shelter in Shelby or to one of three Duke Lifepoint hospitals in the area. The usual deployment period is seven days, but volunteers will be accepted regardless of how long they are available. Volunteers will likely be in shared accommodations with limited showering facilities. 

— The Duke Fertility Clinic is collecting items in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce in McDowell County, which was hit hard by the storm. Items needed include fuel and fuel tanks, non-perishable food including Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), and baby formula.

— Diana Cardona, MD, MBA, is coordinating a donation drive to support those impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
She has placed a box outside her office (327A) in Duke South (Davison building, third floor) for donations.
Please consider donating any of the following items:

  • Gallons/bottles of water or sports drinks
  • Non-perishable food (pop-top cans, shelf-stable items, protein powders, etc.)
  • First aid supplies
  • Personal hygiene items (toothbrushes/paste, deodorant, shampoo, etc.)
  • Baby items
  • Cleaning supplies

Delivery to the areas in need in North Carolina will be coordinated periodically with local organizations and area shelters, with the next areas of focus being Chimney Rock and Banner Elk, N.C. Thanks to June Bumgarner with Duke Transfusion Service, and her husband, Joe Bumgarner of the Caldwell County Fire Department, for helping coordinate delivery efforts.

If you would like to donate money, please email Diana Cardona or consider donating through Duke Health.

— Duke Health is also supporting fundraising efforts through the American Red Cross.

Duke Athletics

— Duke Athletics is partnering with Two Men and a Truck to collect relief supplies. Two Men and a Truck will collect items directly on Morton Plaza for the Florida State football game on Friday, Oct. 18.

Items needed include non-perishable food, bottled water, contractor-size trash bags, blankets, first aid supplies, feminine hygiene products, diapers and baby clothes, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, paper towels, bleach, shovels, brooms, gloves, coolers, flashlights, batteries and fans.

— Anyone unable donate in person who would like to contribute items can order from this Duke Athletics relief drive link at Amazon. When checking out, select Duke Athletics Ticket Office Hurricane Relief as your shipping destination. 

Other ways to help

— The Independent College Fund of North Carolina is accepting donations to support students, staff and campuses at the seven independent nonprofit colleges in western North Carolina that were damaged and disrupted by the storm.