As readers may know, McFarland Publishing has published two of my books. McFarland is located in West Jefferson, Ashe County, North Carolina. The county, and especially West Jefferson, are among the most devastated parts of the East Coast. I have tried to contact my friends at McFarland by email and phone without success. I call them my friends because, during our association, I have come to know many of the fine people who work there. I pray they are safe and will soon be able to provide their publications to libraries around the world.
I hope my fellow McFarland authors and their readers will join me in contributing to the recovery efforts.
Here is a list of organizations you can donate to:
World Central Kitchen: When there is a disaster, Chef José Andrés is there with his teams to set up kitchen facilities and start serving thousands of meals to victims and responders. You can help by donating on their website.
There are also many other organizations providing specialty care and assistance:
All Hands and Hearts: This volunteer-based organization works alongside residents to help by rebuilding schools, homes, and other community infrastructure. It has a Helene fund started.
Americares: Americares focuses on medical aid, helping communities recover from disasters with access to medicine and providing personal protective equipment and medical supplies. To help Hurricane Helene victims, Americares has set up a donation page.
CARE: Provides relief through emergency cash assistance to families in underserved communities. Donate to their Helene fund on their website.
Direct Relief: Direct Relief brings long-term medical aid specifically needed by local officials and agencies. The organization has just made more than $74 million in medicines and medical supplies available for healthcare providers in the path of Hurricane Helene, according to an email. You can donate to their general fund or choose Hurricane Helene Response in the dropdown on their donation page.
Global Giving: This disaster relief charity provides immediate aid after emergencies to people, animals, and front-line workers and helps displaced families, but also addresses long-term assistance with a focus on local organizations Donate to its Helene Ida fund on their website.
International Medical Corps: This organization works with state agencies and local healthcare providers to offer critical care and medical supplies. Donate to the Helene fund detailed on their website.
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief: A grassroots disaster relief network dedicated to getting help directly to the underserved communities who are often left out. Donate at mutualaiddisasterrelief.org.
Operation Blessing: This group works with emergency management and local churches to bring clean water, food, medicine, and more supplies to people with immediate needs in disaster areas. Donate to their Helene fund on their website.
Save the Children: This organization works to get child-focused supplies into the hands of families hardest hit by the storm including hygiene kits, diapers, and baby wipes as well as classroom cleaning kits to schools and assistance in restoring child care and early learning centers. Donate to the Children’s Emergency Fund.
Let me close with a poem by our very dear friend, Susan Avery.
The eye of the storm …
It’s been hours, the noise is deafening. You are in your “safe place,” crouching in the bathtub. One arm around your poor traumatized dog, the other clutching a flashlight. In the midst of chaos you need a light, to assure yourself that all will be well …
Suddenly, you realize it’s quiet. Eerily, so, very quiet. You switch on the news and the weatherman, with a raspy voice, who has been talking nonstop for hours, announces that You are in the eye. He gives you a timeframe for the eye to pass. Warning that the worst is coming once it does. It will come quickly.
You stretch, leave your little sanctuary and open the door. It’s so peaceful. The sky is clear, The dog finds her way out, locates a small patch of grass not covered by debris or flooded. Then you hear voices, your neighbors.
“You ok? “Your house?” Everyone ok?” Then, as if someone has given a clue, everyone turns, grabs their pets and retreats inside.
You do a pee, wash your face, grab a drink, change your sweaty, dog drooled clothes, check windows, doors, then retreat to your “safe space.”
You wait … and then with a noise of 100 jet engines, it’s back.
by Sue Avery
Allen Mesch 