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How religious communities are leading the hurricane relief effort

Written by The Likely Voter

October 9, 2024

  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has extended humanitarian aid to the region.
  • Some community churches have raised money and provided supplies for the families impacted by the storm.
  • Nearly 75% of disaster-relief organizations are religious in origin.

Communities across the Southeast were devastated by Hurricane Helene, with a death toll of 227 at the time of this writing, after some areas saw as much as 30 inches of rain.

Religious organizations across the region and country have come together to provide aid and relief wherever possible.

According to one local news report, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta (UUCA) has collected more than $20,000 in donations along with supplies like baby formula and bottles of water.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced it has already begun humanitarian efforts in the region, as members work together to salvage homes and clean up debris across neighborhoods.

A story in the Christian Post captured how the community is rallying to help one another.

“This storm is bringing our community together in a way that I’ve not seen in a long time,” said Kristi Brown of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, NC. “I think nationwide, our community has been divided in this whole political season that we’re in. But now people are helping people.”

In a recent publication, Sutherland Institute’s constitutional law and religious freedom fellow, Bill Duncan, noted the historical benefit of religious communities in times of natural disaster.

“Churches and faith-based nonprofits are often some of the first to step up in a time of crisis,” he wrote.

In that same report, Duncan references a 2017 Washington Examiner article, where it’s noted that nearly 75 percent of organizations that help rebuild communities following a disaster are faith-based groups.

“Religious organizations have an advantage in these types of efforts because they are typically already organized and on the ground so they can act quickly while outside efforts typically take more time to organize,” said Duncan. “Additionally, they have a holistic approach to providing for needs created by emergencies. They meet tangible needs but also offer comfort, hope and reassurance.”

Religious organizations have banded together to provide hope, care and vital relief to families in need in the Southeast. Though federal agencies and programs certainly play a vital role, much of the relief we see today would not be possible without the united effort of the religious throughout the country.

If you would like to offer support to these communities, consider donating to the relief effort here.

Takeaways: the most important things voters need to know. For civically engaged citizens.  

  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has extended humanitarian aid to the region.
  • Some community churches have raised money and provided supplies for the families impacted by the storm.
  • Nearly 75% of disaster-relief organizations are religious in origin.
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