HURRICANE HELENE 2024
UPDATED WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2024 7:55 PM
Matthew 25: Ministries is responding to Hurricane Helene, which made landfall as an extremely dangerous category 4 storm with maximum winds of 140MPH on Thursday, September 26 near Perry, Florida. Helene is the strongest hurricane on record to slam into Florida’s Big Bend, causing unprecedented damage and flooding. The storm has resulted in over 100 fatalities and caused widespread devastation across the southeastern United States. Helene’s storm surge reached up to 15 feet in some areas along Florida’s coast, inundating coastal communities. Rainfall totals exceeded 15 inches in several states, with some parts of North Carolina receiving as much as 30 inches of rain, leading to catastrophic flooding. At the height of the power outages, over 4 million households were without power across Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. The storm continued to cause damages as it moved through the Carolinas and into the Ohio Valley.
In collaboration with Procter & Gamble and Walmart, Matthew 25: Ministries deployed our Disaster Response Team to Florida equipped with a range of fleet vehicles, including Tide Loads of Hope Mobile Laundry units, shower trailers, and co-branded panel trucks. The team is offering critical services such as laundry and shower facilities and distributing essential supplies, including personal care kits, baby products, paper goods, insect repellent, as well as additional items like garbage bags, cleaning supplies, and first aid and safety kits provided by Cintas to areas affected by the hurricane. Matthew 25 also deployed the Duracell PowerForward truck, equipped with up to 20,000 Duracell batteries as well as on-board charging stations for mobile devices.
To support immediate relief efforts in North Carolina, Matthew 25 is airlifting supplies for distribution to impacted areas. With support from partners like Kroger, Procter & Gamble, Prime, and Walmart, these supplies will include food, water, hydration drinks, baby formula, and diapers, enabling us to reach areas cut off from other forms of assistance and ensuring a sustained and comprehensive response.
In addition to deploying our Disaster Response teams and airlifting supplies, we have shipped 10 truckloads of relief supplies. We are also preparing additional supplies to be sent to our partners this week to address the immediate and ongoing needs of those affected. Matthew 25 will continue these efforts for as long as the needs exist and we can respond efficiently and effectively.
“This is a hurricane of tremendous size and destructiveness,” said Tim Mettey, CEO of Matthew 25: Ministries. “I have been with our teams on prior disaster deployments and have seen the incredible damage these storms can cause. I have also seen the remarkable resilience of people after disasters. Their courage and determination is immense. With the help of our generous and caring partners, we are once again committed to bringing hope and providing the critical services and supplies needed to help these communities heal and rebuild.”
DISASTER RELIEF RESOURCES
If you or someone you know has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, view the list below for information on where to find us or check our online Disaster Relief Resource Map for resources in your area.
PARTNER | SERVICE | LOCATION | DATE | TIME |
 | Free relief and cleanup supplies | The team will distribute supplies throughout | 10.10.24 | Throughout the day |
 | Free batteries and chargers | The team will distribute supplies throughout | 10.10.24 | Throughout the day |
  | Free laundry and shower services There is a limit of 2 loads of laundry per household. All washable items, with the exception of heavy bedding, will be accepted. | Excel College Laundry & Shower Services Home Depot Laundry Services Walmart Supercenter Shower Services | 10.10.24 | 10 AM - 4 PM EST, or until capacity is reached |
RECENT UPDATES FROM THE TEAM
10.09.24 Black Mountain & Hendersonville, NC | The team completed 112 loads of laundry today as they began providing services to communities affected by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. Essential supplies were also distributed across the area through airlifts. These supplies consisted of approximately 695 rolls of paper products, 25 personal care kits, 15 first aid and safety kits, 25 detergent samples, 30 bags of detergent pods, 25 bottles of insect repellant, 55 portable chargers, 1,040 batteries, and additional supplies such as generators, flashlights, fans, and cleanup tools.
Tomorrow, October 10, the team will continue to operate laundry and shower services from 10 AM – 4 PM EST, or until capacity is reached. Laundry and shower services will be at Excel College (12 Florida Ave, Black Mountain, NC 28711) laundry services will be at Home Depot (401 Linda Vista Dr, Hendersonville, NC 28792), and shower services will be at Sam’s Club (300 Highlands Square Dr, Hendersonville, NC 28792). The team will also distribute supplies throughout Black Mountain and Hendersonville, NC.
10.06.24 St. Petersburg & Perry, FL | On Sunday, the team continued their relief efforts by completing 110 loads of laundry, providing 15 showers, and distributing essential supplies to the impacted communities. These supplies included approximately 860 rolls of paper products, 35 personal care kits, 25 first aid and safety kits, 13 cases of diapers, 120 portable chargers, 995 batteries, 50 bags of detergent pods, 100 detergent pod samples, and additional supplies, including fans and cleanup tools.
10.05.24 St. Petersburg, FL & Perry, FL | The team completed 240 loads of laundry, provided 35 showers, and distributed supplies, consisting of approximately 650 rolls of paper products, 45 personal care kits, 20 first aid and safety kits, 50 detergent samples, 30 bags of detergent pods, 10 cases of diapers, 80 portable chargers, 1,860 batteries, and additional supplies such as generators, fans, and cleanup tools.
WAYS TO HELP
Matthew 25 is requesting donations of the following types of items to supplement existing supplies, for restocking during their response and for future disasters:
Monetary donations:
- Donate online or mail checks to Matthew 25: Ministries, 11060 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242 (100% of donated funds designated for the 2024 Hurricane Helene will be used for the purpose intended).
Product donations – The following items will be accepted at our facility located at 11083 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242:
- Cases of bottled water: 12 and 24 count
- Personal care products: Antibacterial soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, body wash, deodorant, lotion, etc.
- Cleaning supplies: Laundry detergents, general cleaner, sponges, bleach (powdered form is preferred), mops, scrub brushes, buckets, rubber gloves, etc.
- Paper products: Toilet paper, paper towels, etc.
- Baby and infant supplies: Diapers, wipes, diaper rash ointment, baby wash, baby shampoo, baby lotion, etc.
- First-aid items: Bandages, gauze, pads, first aid tape, antiseptic creams, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, latex gloves, instant cold packs, etc.
- Candles and flashlights: If necessary, please include the appropriate size batteries with any flashlight donation
- Clean-up supplies: Protective eyewear, work gloves, trash bags etc.
