How to Give and Get Help After Hurricane Helene (2024)

As our region begins recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene, we've put together a list of local, state and national organizations offering help if you need it. We've also included ways to help our community. We’ll keep this list updated as we learn more.

Sarasota County Disaster Recovery Center

Representatives from FEMA and the SBA (Small Business Administration) will be available to assist residents and business owners with recovery efforts.

To find other center locations go to www.fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a zip code to 43362. All centers are accessible to people with
disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology.

Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Sarasota Christian Church, 2923 Ashton Road, in Sarasota.

Pop Up Recovery Center in Rubonia, Manatee

Manatee County, FEMA, the Red Cross and more have organized a recovery center on the corner of 72nd Street East and Bayshore Road in Rubonia. Water, tarps, food, paper towels, soap, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided, daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice.

Manatee County Points of Distribution

Meals Ready to Eat (MRE), drinking water and tarps are available here, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Kingfish Boat Ramp: 752 Manatee Ave., Holmes Beach

GT Bray Park: 5502 33rd Ave. Drive W., Bradenton

Water distribution points for Bradenton residents only are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the City Auditorium, at 100, 10th St. W., Bradenton.

Hurricane Relief Donations for Babies

ROCKtoberfest Fundraiser

iHeart Radio and Benderson Development are joining forces with Suncoast Charities for Children for a free night of music and support for locals impacted by Hurricane Helene as seven area rock bands jam out at seven locations around the UTC District. QR codes will be available at all seven locations where guests can make online donations, and a large donation box will also be at The Green at the iHeart Media tent. All gifts will assist in funding vital services for individuals impacted by the hurricane within the Sarasota/Bradenton area. The bands performing are One Eyed Jack's, Vitamin G, Ellipsis Band, Jane Bond Band, JJ & the Bad Habits, The Meeps and Nobody's Fool. For more information, click here

Saturday, Oct. 5, from 6 to 9 p.m., University Town Center, 210 N. Cattlemen Road, Sarasota.

Hurricane Relief Donation Matching for the Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC)

HOPE Florida

The Hope Line can be reached at 1-833-GET-HOPE and is operating 24 hours a day for the next two weeks. Talk with live navigators who can connect callers to local resources, including temporary trailer housing so residents can live on-site while their home is repaired.

Rapid Response Fund for Hospitality Workers

Individuals may receive up to $1,000, and families may be eligible for up to $1,200, thanks to a partnership between the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the Southern Smoke Foundation–a nonprofit founded and led by current and past food and beverage workers dedicated to creating a meaningful safety net of support that doesn’t exist for most people in the hospitality industry. Click here to apply. Donors interested in contributing to the fund can do so by clicking here.

G.T. Bray Recreation Center

1888 Main St., Sarasota

Call Greg at (941) 536-5578

301 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice

Call Greg at (941) 536-5578

8519 SR 70, Bradenton

Call Dan at (813) 965-5109

4808 14th St. W., Bradenton

Call Greg at (941) 536-5578

For the full wishlist, click here.

Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill

The restaurant will be offering meals to those displaced by Hurricane Helene from 12-4 p.m. through next Saturday, Oct. 5. Pick up is in The Frida Lounge. 6644 Gateway Ave., in Gulf Gate, Sarasota, (941) 921-3133.

U-Haul Co. of Western Florida

U-Haul is offering one month of free self-storage or U-Box portable container usage to those needing a dry and secure space to keep their belongings during the storm clean-up. Participating store locations include Bradenton, North Port, Palmetto and Sarasota. Call (941) 359-2413.

American Red Cross

Temporary housing is available at First Baptist Church of Bradenton at 1306 Manatee Ave. W. The Red Cross is the county's largest emergency response organization. Its site includes a missing person registry and a variety of disaster preparation and response materials. Click here for more or call (800) 733-2767.

Florida Rotary

Sign up here to submit a needs form; or here to volunteer to help or donate.

All Faiths Food Bank

Free food pickup locations are at multiple public Sarasota County schools throughout October.

Pick-up points are:

• Booker Middle School, Monday, Oct. 7 and 21, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; 2250 Myrtle St., Sarasota.
• Fruitville Elementary School, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; 601 Honore Ave., Sarasota.
• Venice Middle School, Thursday, Oct. 10, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; 1 Ram Way, Venice.
• Lamarque Elementary School, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 5:30 to 7 p.m.; 3415 Lamarque Ave., North Port.
• Atwater Elementary School, Thursday, Oct. 24, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; 4701 Huntsville Ave., North Port.
• Glenallen Elementary School, Thursday, Oct. 17, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; 1750 Glenallen Blvd., North Port.

If you or someone you know needs food, water or emergency supplies, please continue to check All Faiths Food Bank's website and social media platforms, or call (941) 379-6333 for the most up-to-date information on distributions.

United Way's 211

Calling 211 can connect you with a wide array of help, including school closures, food and nutrition programs, financial aid, disaster relief and much more, including referrals to local social services.

Suncoast Blood Bank

Blood and platelet donors are needed. If you’re eligible, click here to find donation opportunities near you or call (866) 972-5663.

Anna Maria Island Hurricane Helene Relief

This Facebook group is dedicated to coordinating relief efforts for the Anna Maria Island community in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Its goal is to bring neighbors together, share resources and rebuild the island.Click here to join.

FEMA

Starting Tuesday, Oct. 1, the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is open daily at Lakewood Ranch Library for those impacted by hurricanes Debby and Helene, from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Representatives will be answering questions about disaster recovery, give referrals and provide general information on applications and more. FEMA moved resources into Florida on Monday in anticipation of Hurricane Helene. Visit FEMA.gov or visit theFEMA state and local resources pagefor more information.

Homeowners and renters impacted may be eligible for FEMA clean and sanitize one-time payments of $300 or serious needs assistance of $750, to help pay for food, water, baby formula and emergency supplies. To apply, visitdisasterassistance.gov.

Florida Blue/New Directions Behavioral Health Bilingual Emotional Support

The stress and anxiety of a hurricane can sometimes be overwhelming. Florida Blue teamed with New Directions Behavioral Health to offer a toll-free 24/7 bilingual emotional support helpline at (833) 848-1764 for anyone in Florida experiencing feelings of stress, anxiety, trauma, and grief and in need of immediate emotional support.Callers may also receive referrals to other sources of mental health support and community resources to help them with emergency services.

Crisis Cleanup

If you need help cleaning up damage from Hurricane Helene, call Crisis Cleanup's hotline at (844) 965-1386 to ask for help. The service will connect you with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups and faith communities who may be able to assist with muck-outs, trees, tarps and more.

Legal Aid of Manasota

Legal Aid of Manasota offers free civil legal aid to the most vulnerable members of the community, including FEMA appeals, disaster benefits such as food and unemployment), landlord/tenant disputes, foreclosure issues and more. Click here to for more information.

Business Damage Assessment Survey

Florida Commerce and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Helene. Business owners can self-report physical and economic damage caused by Hurricane Helene; responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Helene recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of impacted businesses. Go toFloridaDisaster.bizand selecting “Hurricane Helene” from the dropdown menu. If you need additional assistance with your business, call the private sector hotline at (850) 815-4925, which is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email [emailprotected].com.

State Information Assistance Line

TheFlorida Division of Emergency Management State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) is active.Residents needing resources before and after Hurricane Helene can call (800) 342-3557. There are English, Spanish and Creole speakers available to answer questions.Click here for more information.

Free Xfinity Hotspots

The free Xfinity WiFi hotspot network is open for Sarasota County residents to help residents and emergency personnel stay connected. To learn more, click here.

Sarasota County Government

Call 311 for county alerts and the most up-to-date information on recovery efforts.

Manatee County Government

If you were severely affected by Hurricane Helene, the county asks that you complete its "Unmet Needs" survey. Click here to do so.