Letter from Kathryn Firmin-Sellers, Interim President & CEO 

Available resources and ways to support Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.  

I hope this note finds you and your loved ones safe and secure in the aftermath of the weekend’s devastating storm. I wanted to reach out with the latest information about steps United Way of Greater Charlotte is taking and initiatives we are supporting to address critical immediate needs as well as future rebuilding efforts in western North Carolina. 

Financial Donations: 

• United Way of North Carolina (UWNC) has created the UWHelpsNC Helene Recovery Fund. Donors can give to areas with the greatest needs or designate which local United Way their donation goes toward. Donations to this fund will allow United Ways in the affected areas to respond to urgent requests and continue to meet needs as they unfold in the coming weeks. 

• If your company would like to make a donation to that fund, please contact Ed Bonilla at UWNC (ebonilla@unitedwaync.org)  

Materials Donations:  

• Donations of materials must first be approved by the NC Emergency Management-Business Emergency Operations Center.  It is best to collect donation items at an approved drop-off site. View a list of those sites and donation needs.  

Volunteering:  

• NC VOAD (North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) is in the process of organizing volunteer response in the affected areas, knowing that access to the region is limited at this time. Opportunities to serve will be posted on their website.  

Communications: 

• For those trying to get in touch with loved ones in the areas hit by the hurricane, they can visit www.unitedwaync.org  to fill out a request form to add them to the Search & Rescue efforts. 

• UWNC is working in real time to gather the latest information and update their communications accordingly. The best way to stay on top of the details is to visit UWNC’s Facebook or Instagram. United Way of Greater Charlotte is continuing to share these updates on our platforms as well.  

As always, thank you for supporting our community – both near and farther away.  

Sincerely,  

Kathryn Firmin-Sellers 

Interim President & CEO