Hurricane Helene Assistance for our Friends in the South

As you are probably aware, many of our Rotary friends in Zones 33 and 34 have been impacted significantly by Hurricane Helene.  Below please find a message from Rotary International Director Patrick Eakes.  Please share with your members. 

Friends:

I appreciate your concern and prayers as communities across Zones 33 and 34 try to survive the next few days before starting the long recovery following Hurricane Helene.

We have established a fund where those who would like to assist recovery efforts by making a donation can do so via online payment, mailed check, or wire transfer. Information to make a donation is at https://www.rizones33-34.org/disaster-relief/. I have also attached a QR code. That code will take folks to the same web page. 

We are collecting these funds at a zones level. I will ask district leaders, in cooperation with club leaders, in the most affected areas to submit requests for funding to a group of seasoned leaders (many with significant disaster relief experience) who I will appoint. This group will make recommendations to me to approve grants that will support the efforts of volunteers by providing equipment, tools, storage, mobile storage, etc. Our hope is that our donations can amplify the efforts of volunteers, which seems like a solid Rotary type of approach. When we can, we will leverage district grants and RI disaster relief grants (if/when they become funded again) to further maximize our impact.

Thank you again for your many texts, phone calls, and caring about the residents affected by Helene. 

Patrick