In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton and Helene's devastating impact, The Salvation Army's relief efforts have been greatly amplified by the swift and generous support of our dedicated and compassionate corporate supporters. These heroes stepped forward, offering essential financial resources, inkind assistance, and direct aid that have sustained and energized our humanitarian efforts. Their generosity enabled us to provide critical food and clean water to thousands of affected residents, distribute emergency supplies such as blankets, hygiene kits, and clothing, and offer temporary shelter to those displaced from their homes. We deployed mobile feeding units to reach isolated communities and provided emotional and spiritual care to traumatized survivors.
Most importantly, these contributions allowed us to offer hope to those devastated by the disaster. In times of crisis, hope can be as crucial as physical aid, giving survivors the strength to persevere and rebuild their lives. The Salvation Army is grateful to all who have contributed to this vital mission. Together, we continue to stand firm and united in our commitment to bringing light to the darkest of times.
Audacy, a leading multi-platform audio company, launched a significant media campaign, leveraging the power of radio and community connection across its radio stations in local and national markets to drive donations for impacted communities. These funds provide critical supplies like food, clean water, and longer-term aid to Carolinians recovering from Helene.
Comcast NBCUniversal donated $50,000 to The Salvation Army, helping provide essential assistance to affected communities, such as food, water, and emergency resources. Comcast NBCUniversal's commitment to support its communities amplifies the importance of corporate partnerships in disaster response efforts
America's Team leveraged its star power across social media and DallasCowboys.com to rally fans to support communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Additionally, the Dallas Cowboys shared the QR code for Salvation Army relief efforts on its game billboard, turning cheers into real change for our neighbors needing help and hope to recover from the storms.
Delta customer contributions of 3 million charitable miles enabled The Salvation Army to rapidly deploy over 50 trained disaster personnel to Hurricane Helene-impacted areas. This swift air transportation was crucial in our emergency response, allowing teams to quickly reach devastated communities and provide vital relief. We're deeply grateful for Delta Airlines' support in our mission to serve those affected by this catastrophic storm.
Elder's Ace Hardware activated a round-up at the register and donate-to-give campaign in 32 stores across four states to aid Helene-impacted communities. The family-owned chain also pledged a financial contribution, continuing its 55-year tradition of community service. This rapid response helps provide survivors crucial relief supplies and emotional and spiritual care.
FedEx rushed critical supplies to areas left stranded by the Category 3 hurricane. FedEx planes and trucks cut through chaos from North Carolina to Tennessee, delivering clean-up kits, food, water, and infant necessities. This rapid response demonstrates that when every second counts, FedEx's global network delivers more than packages - they provide hope.
Food for Good swiftly deployed 10,000 nutrient-rich, shelf-stable snack kits to communities grappling with the loss of basic necessities like food, power, and water. Food for Good, The PepsiCo Foundation's global initiative, continually affirms its commitment to combating hunger and ensuring access to vital nutrition, even in the most challenging circumstances.
Gray Media launched a powerful nationwide media blitz, rallying support for communities devastated across six states. The response was overwhelming: Gray's compassionate viewers, bolstered by Gray Media's substantial contribution, amassed over $500,000 in crucial relief funds. This outpouring of generosity fueled immediate aid and sustained recovery efforts in the hardest-hit areas.
Lamar Advertising reached out to donate prime digital billboard space, prompting thousands to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts. This generous act raised awareness and vital funding for emergency aid in affected areas. Lamar's swift response exemplifies its commitment to utilizing its extensive outdoor advertising network to help its communities in times of crisis.
Lowe’s Companies has donated $100,000 to The Salvation Army for Hurricane Helene relief efforts in North Carolina. This generous gift is helping provide essential services – hot meals, water, hygiene kits, and cleaning supplies – to communities in Western North Carolina. Lowe’s timely support is making a meaningful difference as families and individuals work to rebuild their lives in the wake of the hurricane.
Midwest Food Bank deployed over 7,000 food boxes to communities hardest hit by Helene. Each box contains healthy, shelf-stable food for a family of four for up to four days - a critical lifeline in times of disaster. For nearly 20 years, Midwest Food Bank has been a crucial partner for The Salvation Army and played a critical role in revolutionizing our emergency aid response.
The PepsiCo Foundation's $100,000 contribution to The Salvation Army became a crucial lifeline for communities devasted by Helene. This generous gift enabled the rapid deployment of essential services, including hot meals, clean water, and expanded shelter assistance for displaced families. The generosity of the PepsiCo Foundation will have a lasting impact for years to come.
Polaris has been crucial in supporting The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, donating over 20 UTVs, including 5 for the Helene response, and 14 generators. Their contribution has significantly enhanced our disaster relief capabilities, helping us deliver aid to remote areas where traditional vehicles falter and providing essential power support during emergencies.
Valued disaster supporter, Sinclair Broadcast Group initiated a nationwide media campaign to help communities affected by Hurricane Helene's impact across six states. Thanks to the generosity of Sinclair's viewers and a substantial contribution from Sinclair Broadcast Group, raised over $300,000 for short and long-term relief efforts for devastated communities.
For more than two decades, the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR), a Christ-centered ministry, has played a pivotal role as a lead feeding partner for The Salvation Army, providing hot meals to hundreds of thousands of disaster survivors. This collaboration has resulted in over 250,000 hot meals for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Sterilite provided nearly 10,000 totes in the wake of the storm. As a long-time partner, their donations of thousands of plastic containers have become crucial in our response strategy, offering a safe, dry, and water-resistant haven for precious belongings amidst the chaos and helping survivors take the first steps toward rebuilding their lives.
The Salvation Army's collaboration with UPS ensured critical supplies reached survivors fast. Through UPS's charitable shipping, we delivered essentials - from water to baby supplies - to the hardest-hit communities in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and beyond. Their swift response enhanced The Salvation Army's efforts to bring hope and healing to hurting communities.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Walmart rapidly donated thousands of cases of bottled water, and Walmart Foundation contributed $125,000 in critical funding. This support helped provide essential resources to survivors, including food, water, hygiene kits, and cleaning supplies. Walmart's timely support strengthened The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts when it was needed most.
The Salvation Army's story of disaster relief efforts is one of quiet dedication and steady growth. It began in 1900 with the Galveston Hurricane when the organization first stepped up to help those affected by a major disaster. This experience set the foundation for what has become a century-long commitment to emergency response.
Over the years, The Salvation Army's role expanded. During World War II, we offered support to soldiers and civilians, learning valuable lessons about crisis management. These skills were put to the test time and again, perhaps most notably on September 11, 2001. Within an hour of the attacks, Salvation Army teams were on the ground near Ground Zero, providing immediate assistance to those in need. We refined and expanded our response efforts even further after serving millions of meals and offering substantial financial aid and long-term recovery assistance to survivors of Hurricane Katrina in 2005
Today, the Salvation Army maintains a presence in nearly every ZIP code across the country. This widespread network, along with its fleet of emergency vehicles and well-stocked warehouses, allows it to respond rapidly to local needs during crises.
From the early days in Galveston to modern times, The Salvation Army has consistently adapted to meet changing needs. We continue to be among the first to arrive at disaster sites and the last to leave, quietly assisting hundreds of thousands of survivors each year. Their story is one of steady, reliable service in times of greatest need.