Cleveland Rallies for Hurricane Helene Victims: Here’s How You Can Help
CLEVELAND — Cleveland 13 News has teamed up with Lutheran West High School to organize a community-wide relief drive aimed at helping the victims of Hurricane Helene. The initiative is being led by Debi Albrecht, Lutheran West’s Alumni Director (Class of ‘85), and Megan Gill, Cleveland 13 News administrative team and Lutheran West alumna (Class of ‘07). The goal is to assemble urgently needed hygiene kits for those affected by the hurricane, with donations being sent to Asheville, N.C., and surrounding areas.
Thrivent Financial, which often collaborates with Lutheran West for such events, provided the seed money that launched this relief effort. The community is being asked to donate essential items or make monetary contributions to help expedite the process of getting aid to those in need.
Albrecht, who will personally deliver the hygiene kits to North Carolina, emphasized the urgency of the effort. “The faster we can collect the items, the quicker we can get them to the people who desperately need them,” she said. Albrecht and her team plan to caravan to Asheville next weekend to deliver the donations.
The hygiene kits will include hand towels, washcloths, combs, nail clippers, individually packaged soap and toothbrushes, unopened toothpaste, hand sanitizer, small bottles of shampoo, adhesive bandages, and one-gallon resealable bags. These items are crucial for maintaining basic hygiene among those displaced by the hurricane, many of whom are without access to such necessities.
“We’re asking the community to step up,” Gill said. “We need these items as soon as possible, and every bit helps. Whether it’s a donation of supplies or a contribution to the Helping Hands Fund, we can make a real difference for those affected by Hurricane Helene.”
Physical donations can be dropped off at Lutheran West High School, located at 3850 Linden Road in Rocky River, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. For those unable to make it to the drop-off location, Gill is available to arrange pick-ups of donated items.
Monetary donations are also being accepted via the Cleveland 13 News Helping Hands Fund, with all funds collected throughout October going directly toward hurricane relief efforts. Contributions can be made online at Cleveland 13 News’ donation page through regular card processing and PayPal, or you can click below to give directly through CashApp and Venmo.
Hurricane Helene has devastated communities in the southeastern United States, particularly in areas of North Carolina. Thousands have been displaced, leaving many in urgent need of aid. Relief organizations are working around the clock to provide food, water, and essential supplies, but much more help is needed.
The team at Lutheran West and Cleveland 13 News is focused on assembling as many hygiene kits as possible before next weekend’s caravan to North Carolina. The ongoing partnership with Thrivent Financial and community involvement is key to the success of this relief mission. “Every donation, big or small, goes a long way in helping those who’ve lost so much,” Albrecht said.
For those interested in contributing to the relief effort, Debi Albrecht, Alumni Director at Lutheran West, is the main point of contact and can be reached via email at dalbrecht@lutheranwest.com. Megan Gill, with Cleveland 13 News, is also available to help coordinate pick-ups of donated items if they cannot be dropped off at Lutheran West. She can be contacted at mgill@cleveland13news.com. Both are eager to assist with any questions and appreciate the community's support in providing aid to Hurricane Helene victims.
Share the link to this article, or the posted within on social media and throughout your circles to help spread the word so that we can collect as many supplies as possible.
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