Brittany Burnett, President and CEO of United Way of the CSRA, highlighted the timeline of events following Hurricane Helene, which took place in the early morning hours of Friday, September 27th. After assessing personal damages, United Way of the CSRA staff members stepped up and began answering the calls for help from the community. Some highlights include:

- Launching a Disaster Relief Fund two days post-Hurricane Helene to raise funds for immediate and extended recovery needs of residents in our community.

- United Way of the CSRA staff members began answering 211 calls assisting members within our 11 Georgia counties and two South Carolina communities to find resources like food distribution centers, where to find bottled water, shelter, and most importantly, give hope during the time of crisis.

- Through United Way of the CSRA’s partnerships with Golden Harvest Food Bank, World Central Kitchen, local elected officials, and utilizing 211 data, they helped identify locations for food distributions to facilitate get basic necessities food to those in high-need areas.

- Leveraging United Way Worldwide’s partnership and our 211 call center, United Way of the CSRA partnered with global companies including Airbnb, DoorDash, and GoFundMe, to aid residents in our community as it related to housing needs, food resources, and financial support.

After reflecting on United Way of the CSRA’s timeline, Burnett stated, “Everyone jumped in and did a job they weren’t used to doing, all for the betterment of our community. If there’s one thing we can take away from this crisis, it’s the fact that United Way of the CSRA and 211 are vital assets to our community.”

Williams echoed Burnett by saying, “What I am incredibly proud of, and always have been in my three years at United Way Worldwide, is our 211 staff. I feel that 211 is the most under-recognized asset that the United States of America has. I have shared that with the White House, and we have put together the HELP Act to ask Congress to recognize the importance of the 211 centers as part of America’s key infrastructure that needs investment.”

Following the discussion, the United Way teams toured some of the hardest-hit neighborhoods to witness the damage firsthand. This tour aimed to highlight the urgent need for continued support for recovery efforts, which United Way Worldwide has pledged to offer.

For more information, contact: Brittany Burnett, President and CEO United Way of the CSRA 706-922-8923/ [email protected]

Williams, who referred to Augusta as “home” as her parents lived here for many years, sympathized with residents in our area as we are typically the refuge for those evacuating from hurricanes, not ones who experience them. “As a network, and as a leader, I am committed to ensuring that United Way has the resources it needs, that our local United Ways have the training they need, and that we have the tools and supports that are needed so that whenever something chaotic and unexpected happens, we’re prepared and we’re ready because we’re already there in the community.”

United Way of the CSRA continues to lead initiatives that address immediate needs and promote long-term recovery post-Hurricane Helene, including financial assistance, shelter, and community resources for food and necessities.

At the conclusion of the visit, Burnett announced a new, innovative initiative that will launch in the coming days, thanks to partnerships with United Way of the CSRA, Golden Harvest Food Bank, DoorDash, and a grant from United Way Worldwide, to help with food and essential item deliveries to those who need assistance.

For more information on how to support recovery efforts, please visit uwcsra.org or contact 706-724-5544.