Disaster Relief for the Carolina’s

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Donations
Monetary donations allow for the most flexibility. Donations through the synod will be used throughout the Carolinas for immediate need. Donations through Lutheran Disaster Response will go toward the long-term recovery stages.
Giving through the South Carolina Synod may be done online here. Choose South Carolina Disaster Response. If you’d like to give by text through the synod, please follow these instructions.
If you’re using text giving for the first time:
• Text “Give” to 864-383-1482
• Click the link to finish setting up your gift
• Select “Disaster” from the drop-down menu (perhaps include a screenshot)
• Choose whether you’d like to cover the fees, and hit “Give” at the bottom of the form to complete your gift!
If you’ve used text giving before:
• Text “[dollar amount] Disaster” (WITHOUT QUOTES) to 864-383-1482
• Ex. “100 Disaster” (WITHOUT QUOTES)
• You’re done!

Thrivent Financial is matching gifts made dollar for dollar–up to $1 million-through the end of 2018. Go to the Thrivent Disaster Relief page, expand the Hurricane Florence section (using the plus sign), choose your relief organization from those listed, and complete the form. Givers need not have Thrivent accounts to have donations matched.

 

Volunteer Services
The state of South Carolina is asking volunteers to NOT SELF-DEPLOY into hard-hit areas. Showing up to communities impacted by the hurricane will create an additional burden for first responders. Volunteer opportunities often require specialized training, and the state wants to ensure all volunteers are safe during recovery operations.
If you would like to volunteer, please register at VolunteerSC.orq. The site, maintained by the United Way Association of South Carolina and matches volunteers with appropriate opportunities to help.

Clothing
Please do not donate clothes. They often become a second disaster.

Food
SCEMD is requesting that South Carolina citizens take collected food items to local food banks or other charitable organizations. These local food banks and organizations work with the state and will distribute food to the survivors in South Carolina and other impacted areas.

FEMA Help
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted individual assistance to several counties (including Dillon, Marlboro, Horry, and Marion have been granted Public Assistance) you can apply online for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Constituents may call the registration phone number at 1-800-621-3362; those who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.

Emergency Kits
Emergency kits are still needed. please visit our Hurricane Florence update
page for more information on these.

Give blood for those in need
Red Cross personnel are now deployed to respond to needs in the affected area, requiring that blood drives across the state be canceled for the foreseeable future. And yet, there is a real need for donated blood. Contact the Red Cross in your area to find out where to give blood to help.