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How to help women, children, and LGBTQ+ people impacted by Hurricane Helene
LGBTQ+ people and women face unique needs after climate disasters that are often ignored by federal disaster response. Here's how you can help.
LGBTQ+ people and women face unique needs after climate disasters that are often ignored by federal disaster response. Here's how you can help.
The destruction of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida on Thursday as a Category 4 storm, is coming sharply into focus as the death toll has continued to climb in North and South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. Tennessee and Virginia have also seen devastating impacts. So far over 100 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds more are missing. Millions in the Southeast are still without power, and many communities are dealing with catastrophic flooding. Homes and roads have been destroyed by the storm, leaving residents stranded or without shelter.
Climate change makes hurricanes more destructive by increasing rainfall and storm surge, and some research has linked the rapid intensification of hurricanes like Helene to warming ocean waters.
LGBTQ+ people and women face unique needs after climate disasters that are often ignored by federal disaster response. LGBTQ+ people are twice as likely to be displaced after a disaster and have a harder time accessing recovery resources. Many of the largest organizations that offer relief post hurricanes are faith-based, and some have discriminated against same-sex couples and transgender people seeking shelter or recovery assistance.
Hurricane Helene: How to Help, Donate, and Join Relief Efforts to Impacted Communities
Here's how to get food, water, hygiene products, and more critical supplies to those affected by the climate disaster.
Hygiene, Diapers, Medical Supplies, and More
The Diaper Bank of North Carolina
The Diaper Bank of North Carolina is helping bring relief to families in Western North Carolina. Donations will go toward diapers for infants and toddlers, period products for menstruating individuals, adult incontinence supplies for seniors and those with disabilities, and formula for infants.
Local organization collects diapers for nonprofits to give to families
Diapers are one of the biggest expenses facing parents of young children. It’s estimated that half of those families struggle to afford diapers.
All this week, Channel 9 is working to raise awareness of the need for diaper donations in our community. You may not know, but there’s a North Carolina Diaper Bank here in Charlotte filling the critical need for so many families.
Diapers are one of the biggest expenses facing parents of young children. It’s estimated that half of those families struggle to afford diapers.
All this week, Channel 9 is working to raise awareness of the need for diaper donations in our community. You may not know, but there’s a North Carolina Diaper Bank here in Charlotte filling the critical need for so many families.
VIDEO- ‘Diaper Bank’ helps support families in North Carolina
VIDEO- ‘Diaper Bank’ helps support families in North Carolina
Breaking the period product insecurity cycle: An observational study of outcomes experienced by recipients of free period products in the United States
The United States is increasingly recognizing period product insecurity, insufficient access to menstrual products and limited private spaces for managing menstruation due to financial constraints, as an issue impacting the well-being and dignity of Americans.
The United States is increasingly recognizing period product insecurity, insufficient access to menstrual products and limited private spaces for managing menstruation due to financial constraints, as an issue impacting the well-being and dignity of Americans. One strategy to address period product insecurity has been distributing free period products via period supply banks. The outcomes of period product distribution outside the school setting are absent from the literature.
Carolina Strong: Former police officer leads effort to keep local waterways clean
Kevin Kendrick’s focus now is a little different than it used to be.
“I was a Detroit police officer for a few years, beginning in 1977 before joining the FBI in 1981.”
His FBI career lasted 25 years before Kendrick ventured into the private sector and his civic engagement really began.
“I learned so much about what is happening in the community to help people live better lives.”
He now leads Rotary District 7680, the service organization that covers 14 counties, and spearheads some major efforts.
Kevin Kendrick’s focus now is a little different than it used to be.
“I was a Detroit police officer for a few years, beginning in 1977 before joining the FBI in 1981.”
His FBI career lasted 25 years before Kendrick ventured into the private sector and his civic engagement really began.
“I learned so much about what is happening in the community to help people live better lives.”
He now leads Rotary District 7680, the service organization that covers 14 counties, and spearheads some major efforts.
Eastern North Carolina organizations tackle increasing period product prices
The price of feminine products have increased nearly 10% in the past 5 years leaving some women to have to make the decision between pads and groceries.
And while some organizations are trying to provide these products to those in the most need, there is not much access here in Eastern North Carolina.
The price of feminine products have increased nearly 10% in the past 5 years leaving some women to have to make the decision between pads and groceries.
And while some organizations are trying to provide these products to those in the most need, there is not much access here in Eastern North Carolina.
In recent years, women worldwide are suffering from what’s being called period poverty with the rising cost of feminine products.
Here in Eastern North Carolina, some organizations are trying to help provide these products for those in need.
Period supplies in schools are critical to education and health, schools and advocates say
Every day, North Carolina students who cannot afford period supplies are forced to ask teachers or school staff for feminine hygiene products. Some students miss school because they don’t have tampons or menstrual pads at home.
Advocates for ending “period poverty,” the lack of access to supplies due to lack of income, met at the Legislative Building on Wednesday to emphasize the importance the issue has for education and student health.
Public school districts and charter schools eagerly dipped into a state grant program for feminine hygiene products that the legislature started in 2021 with $250,000.
Schools are able to obtain up to $5,000 a year for supplies. The current budget increased total funding to $500,000 a year.
Michelle Schaefer-Old, founder and CEO of the Diaper Bank of NC, said they wanted to thank legislators for what they’ve done so far, and to encourage them “to add to it.” The Diaper Bank founded the Period Power Coalition, a group of organizations working to end period poverty.
North Carolina woman who launched diaper bank reaches out for donations
HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — Inside the Baby Basics closet at the YWCA High Point, visitors will find free clothes, baby formula and diapers.
“A lot of people are very grateful,” Director of the Women’s Resource Center at YWCA High Point Regina Johnson said. “One lady said to me, ‘I don’t know what I was going to do because I was down to my last diaper.'”
That’s a decision Michelle Schaefer-Old never wants families to face and what led her to launch the Diaper Bank of North Carolina in 2013 from her kitchen table in Durham.
Baby food and formula have one of the highest inflation increases, according to consumer report
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — Baby food and formula have had one of the highest inflation rates since last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index.
What You Need To Know
Baby food and formula prices rose 8.7% from Jan. 2023 to Jan. 2024
The Diaper Bank of North Carolina helps families by supplying diapers, formulas and feminine hygiene products
The bank recently moved to a larger location to help service more families
Reports show raising a child born in 2023 compared to a child born in 2011, costs around 30% more
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