Helping After Helene

Yardi Donates to Direct Relief, World Central Kitchen to aid efforts

By Katrina McDowell on Oct 3, 2024 in Giving, News

On September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida. The storm continued north and ravaged parts of Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas with flooding, storm surge and dangerous winds. At least 200 fatalities are confirmed as of this publication.

According to the White House, up to 600 people are still unaccounted for in North Carolina. The impact on the western part of the state is profound, with millions still without power and running water.

The storm is expected to be one of the costliest in United States history. After decimating 90 percent of the homes in Keaton Beach, Florida, and splintering homes in Georgia with debris-covered highways, the Carolinas and Tennessee had many strained dams and overflowing waterways, receiving over 31 inches of rain in just two days.

To assist with post-hurricane relief, Yardi has pledged $250,000 to both Direct Relief and World Central Kitchen. These funds will enable both organizations to provide crucial emergency medical supplies, food, and water to those in need, demonstrating Yardi’s unwavering support for the affected communities.

Sarah Bridich, Yardi’s director of corporate philanthropy, said: “With Yardi employees living in every state impacted by Hurricane Helene, we wanted to support organizations that quickly had boots on the ground. We are grateful that both Direct Relief and World Central Kitchen were able to move so quickly to provide needed medical supplies, food, and water to those directly impacted.”

Direct Relief

So far, Direct Relief has made available $74 million in medicines and medical supplies and $250,000 in financial assistance to community health centers, free and charitable clinics, and other healthcare partners in affected areas.

According to its website, Direct Relief has staff on the ground in affected states, including Florida and Georgia, and is coordinating closely with state and national associations as well as healthcare providers to assess damages, identify priority needs, and respond to requests for emergency medical aid.

As of September 30, Direct Relief had already made 14 shipments of specifically requested emergency medical aid, including antibiotics, emergency medical backpacks, DTaP vaccines, hygiene kits, rehydration salts, personal protective equipment, water purification tablets, medications and more for healthcare providers responding in Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Additionally, from September 24 to October 1, Direct Relief delivered 42 shipments of essential medicines and supplies to healthcare providers in affected states as part of its Safety Net Support Program; the program seeks to ensure community health centers, free and charitable clinics, and other local healthcare providers across the U.S. have access to ongoing donations of medicines and medical supplies for their low-income and uninsured patients.

World Central Kitchen

World Central Kitchen (WCK) is currently operating in four states: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

This week, the organization sent five 6,200-gallon tanker trucks of fresh water to the Asheville, NC area, where it may be weeks before water supplies are running again. The trucks are capable of making multiple trips to Asheville in a 24-hour period, providing up to 100,000 gallons a day.

“Fueled as always by our Chef Corps members, restaurant and food truck partners, and volunteers, WCK is working shoulder-to-shoulder with local communities to blanket the devastated region with much needed food and water aid,” said a post on the organization’s website.

To help provide meals, WCK is currently partnered with 35 food trucks offering free meals: 24 in Florida, eight in Georgia, and three in Tennessee. Sixteen restaurant partners across North Carolina and Tennessee have also provided tens of thousands of hot meals and sandwiches to families in need.

WCK is also using two helicopters to deliver food to those stranded when roads and bridges were destroyed.

“We plan to increase hot meal distribution shortly as additional partner kitchens join the effort. Scouting operations by air and land will also remain a priority as we work to fully assess the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Helene,” WCK said.

Yardi has made consistent contributions to Direct Relief and World Central Kitchen in the aftermath of natural disasters and other crises, including the war in Ukraine. Find more information on the company’s philanthropic efforts on Yardi.org.