Augusta groups see growing need for help weeks after Helene

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’ve visited several distribution sites across Augusta this week, and on Thursday, we were at the HUB.

Even two weeks later, many people are still in need of help getting ahold of the basic necessities.

The need is far from over.

United Way says their call volumes have doubled since the storm. They say a lot of the calls are first-timers needing help.

United Way says this hurricane impacted everyone in our entire community.

It doesn’t matter what zip code you live in. Everyone has experienced it in some way.

“Our plan was to canvass Harrisburg and to do wellness checks and get them the resources that they need food wise, you know, small scale,” said Christy Beckham, volunteer at the HUB.

The scale broke as the need for food, water and basic necessities exploded across the area.

The HUB is just one of several distribution sites in our area.

Those in charge say the more than 100 volunteers serve more than 500 cars a day.

“Storm did not choose the rich and the poor and the rural or the city. It hit us all. And it was a huge community undertaking and it’ll be years before the city recovers in lots of different ways. But if people could jump in and help, they could and they did. I mean, it’s unbelievable who is here,” said Beckham.

Everyone is impacted in some way.

Brittany Burnett, United Way president and CEO, said: “With over half of our community struggling before the hurricane, now we’re looking to see how much more of our community is actually going to be struggling after this disaster has passed. And so, it’ll take a while for us to assess that. But we’re here to help support again, not that just the immediate needs, but those long-term needs as well.”

Burnett says they have people calling to offer help, and then calls from people who need help.

“There’s a lot of great resources up front, but as time goes on, some of those resources go away. And so, people want to be here for the short-term recovery, but they’re also here to help in the long term and really realize that it’s important to continue to give back to your community, not just immediately after the storm, but in the days and weeks and months to come,” she said.

Burnett says United Way has launched a disaster response fund on their website.

She says that will help not only the immediate needs but the long-term needs as well.

She says the best way people either need help or they want to give help is to call 211.

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