Retailers Respond to Hurricane Helene and Milton
Central to retailers’ role as community leaders is a commitment to helping residents in times of crisis. In the case of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which have impacted Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia, it means helping affected communities weather the storm, providing relief, and driving recovery and rebuilding efforts. With stores often on the front lines of these events, retailers are well-positioned to provide supplies, water, shelter, manpower, and more to ensure communities have what they need to recover.
Below is a roundup of how retailers are stepping up to serve communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton:
Academy Sports + Outdoors
Academy Sports + Outdoors is always proud to stand with our communities and provide support through tough times. Contributing to the recovery efforts across Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, Academy store teams distributed over 145,000 bottles of water to customers in need of fresh water. Academy stores in Greenville, SC, Johnson City, TN, Valdosta, GA, and Aiken, SC acted quickly to distribute free 24-packs of bottled water to help their affected communities.
CVS
CVS Health’s priority is the health and safety of its customers, members and colleagues, and the company is committed to providing communities with access to the products and services they need to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Currently, we have been able to reopen to nearly all CVS Pharmacies. We are and will continue to support our customers, patients, and colleagues who have been impacted by this storm.In addition, CVS Health has committed up to $1 million in monetary and product donations to support relief efforts in communities across Georgia, North Carolina and Florida which were among the most impacted by Hurricane Helene. Contributions include supporting World Central Kitchen, which began serving meals to the hardest hit areas the day after the storm passed.
The Home Depot Foundation Commits $3 Million to Hurricane Relief Efforts
The Home Depot Foundation is committing up to $3 million to support immediate disaster relief in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. This incremental funding on top of the Foundation’s annual disaster grants brings the total amount committed to relief efforts this disaster season to more than $9 million.
The Foundation’s nonprofit partners are mobilizing to assess damage, deliver relief supplies and meals and begin cleanup across the communities in Florida devastated by Hurricane Milton, including those still recovering from Helene’s strike just two weeks ago. With the support of the Foundation, partners like Convoy of Hope, Operation Blessing, World Central Kitchen and Team Rubicon, among others, will continue recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene while deploying additional resources to Florida.
“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by Hurricane Milton and those still working to recover from Hurricane Helene,” said Erin Izen, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “We’re here for the long haul – we’ll continue our efforts in Tennessee, the Carolinas and Georgia and double down our support in Florida, particularly those communities affected by both of these back-to-back storms.”
Since Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the Southeast, Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, has packed more than 6,500 disaster relief kits including essentials like cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), trash bags and more to be distributed in disaster zones. More than 3,000 were already distributed at stores in Asheville and Augusta alone. Similar efforts are underway to help those impacted by Hurricane Milton.
“Partnering with The Home Depot Foundation allows us to respond immediately after disasters like Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton,” said Britni Adkins, director of procurement and corporate relations at Operation Blessing. “With their funding and partnership, we’ve distributed more than 100,000 meals across the Southeast and delivered water, hygiene kits, cleanup supplies and hope to victims of Hurricane Helene. With The Home Depot Foundation’s support, we’re able to continue serving these communities as we turn to help those impacted by Hurricane Milton.”
Team Depot will respond to the critical needs of the communities where The Home Depot operates by donating supplies to local governments, first responders and nonprofit organizations, while identifying opportunities to put boots on the ground and support cleanup and rebuilding efforts in the coming weeks.
The Home Depot Foundation partners with The Home Depot in order to respond quickly. Before Hurricane Milton’s landfall, The Home Depot activated its Disaster Response Command Center, which brings together more than 100 expert associates across merchandising, operations, supply chain and technology to ensure communities have the supplies they need to prepare for and rebuild after a storm. More than 1,000 truckloads of essential storm prep supplies were sent to potentially impacted areas, and pre-staged trucks placed right outside of the storm strike zone have been able to quickly respond with recovery supplies like gas cans, generators, trash bags, cleaning supplies and chain saws. The Homer Fund, The Home Depot’s employee assistance fund, is providing immediate financial support to impacted associates in need of safe housing, food and clothing while displaced.
To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation visit HomeDepotFoundation.org.
Kroger
Harris Teeter, which is owned by Kroger but was founded in Charlotte, is asking customers to round up their totals at checkout to support disaster relief efforts by the American Red Cross, according to a post on its Facebook page. Other grocery stores in the region, such as Ingles Markets and Giant Eagle, are donating water, according to local community pages.Ingles’s headquarters and distribution center in Black Mountain, N.C., were severely damaged during the storm, and the company is working to restore service amid “unprecedented flooding and the loss of road and transportation infrastructure,” according to a post on X.
Lowe's Launches $2.5 Million Western North Carolina Small Business Recovery Fund
Beginning Nov. 18 through Nov. 22, small businesses in disaster-declared communities in Western North Carolina will be eligible to apply for grants to meet urgent needs, such as payroll, rent or replacing equipment or tools. The fund will award 100 $20,000 grants, a $2 million investment in area small businesses. A large portion of Western North Carolina's economy relies on small businesses that support the region's thriving tourism, agriculture and artisan industries.
"The economic toll of Hurricane Helene will be felt for years to come. Small businesses are the cornerstones of the communities we serve – not only are they our customers, but also our vendors, neighbors, church members and friends," said Marvin Ellison, Lowe's chairman and CEO. "The faster we can help small businesses get back on their feet, the faster the region can begin to recover. We are committed to supporting our community every step of the way."
The fund will be managed by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the nation's largest community development organization. Small businesses can visit LISC.org/Lowes to learn more about the Lowe's Western North Carolina Small Business Recovery Fund. Grant applications will open Monday, Nov. 18 at 9 a.m.
Lowe's support of small businesses in Western North Carolina extends beyond the recovery fund. The company will host local events throughout the week of Thanksgiving – traditionally one of the busiest for small businesses – with the goal of helping impacted restaurants and artisans.
On Tuesday, Nov. 26, Lowe's will distribute 3,000 family-style Thanksgiving meals, purchased from local caterers, at six Lowe's stores in Asheville, Banner Elk, Boone, Marion and Weaverville, while supplies last. The meals will be prepared by Reid's Cafe & Catering Co. (Banner Elk), The Blackbird Restaurant (Asheville), Zella's Deli & Catering (Swannanoa), The Local Joint (Fairview), Well Bred Bakery & Cafe (Asheville) and Baked Pie Company (Asheville), helping to feed more than 12,000 people in hard-hit communities.
On Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30, Lowe's of West Asheville will host a Holiday Pop-Up for local artisans impacted by flooding in Asheville's famous River Arts District. Participating artisans will receive $1,000 grants to help replenish their supplies and inventory, along with a table and tent at the event to sell both existing pieces and commissions. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include food trucks, children's activities and more.
The initiatives announced today are part of Lowe's $12 million pledge to support relief and recovery efforts in the wake of the devastation in Western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene and the extensive damage from Hurricane Milton. Donations have also supported first responders and local nonprofits, including a $750,000 grant to help Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry rebuild its veterans housing facility. In addition, hundreds of Lowe's red vest volunteers deployed alongside nonprofit partners to support cleanup efforts, helping to clear mud and debris across Western North Carolina.
Visit Lowe's Newsroom for updates on Lowe's relief and recovery efforts. For cleanup, repair and rebuilding support, visit Lowes.com.
Publix Charities donates $1M to support disaster relief following Hurricane Milton
Publix is also activating a companywide donation campaign so customers and associates can help people affected by the storm. Donations may be made in any amount at checkout. The campaign’s end date will be based on customer response.The contributions from PSMC and the register campaign will support nonprofit organizations, including the American Red Cross, United Way and the Florida Fund, enabling them to help people recover from this disaster.
“Our thoughts are with the people who have been affected by Hurricane Milton. This destructive storm made its way across Florida as many people were still recovering from Hurricane Helene,” said Publix CEO Kevin Murphy. “I’m grateful to Publix Super Markets Charities for their continued support and donation to help people in one of their greatest times of need. I’m also proud of our over 255,000 associates who continue to show their dedication to caring for our customers, our communities and each other.”
Target
Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene across the Southeastern United States, Target worked quickly to support recovery and rebuilding. Target donated $3 million to aid in response and recovery efforts.Target also donated an additional $1.5 million to support Hurricane Milton recovery efforts. The donations will be distributed to local and national disaster relief organizations, including Convoy of Hope, SBP, local food banks and others. Additionally, earlier this year Target proactively donated $1.5 million to domestic relief partners such as The American Red Cross, Team Rubicon and Feeding America, to help them respond instantly with food, financial aid, medicine and essential supplies to communities in crisis. Target has also provided essential resources to team members in heavily impacted areas.Learn more about how Target proactively funds disaster relief and find the current status of any Target store by visiting Target.com/store-locator.
Walgreens
Walgreens is committed to supporting communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Starting today, Walgreens has activated a national PIN pad program with the American Red Cross where customers can donate at checkout to the relief efforts, and Walgreens will also make a $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross Hurricane Helene Fund. Additionally, we are donating water and other urgent supplies for the communities in need. Walgreens field teams have been working tirelessly to take care of the communities that need us and deliver aid to fellow team members in affected areas. The Walgreens Benefit Fund has been activated to support team members personally affected by the storm.Walmart, Sam's Club and the Walmart Foundation Extend Support for Hurricane Relief to $16 Million
Many of the communities Walmart and Sam’s Club are proud to call home have been affected by destruction and loss from Hurricanes Helene and Milton over the past two weeks. On the heels of Hurricane Milton, Walmart, Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation are extending their commitment to support hurricane relief efforts to $16 million across impacted communities.This is a $6 million increase to the $10 million previously committed for relief and recovery efforts in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas from Hurricane Helene. As part of that commitment, on Sept. 30 the company launched a nationwide campaign allowing customers and members to donate to the American Red Cross’ hurricane relief efforts at checkout in stores, clubs and on Walmart.com. Customers and members have generously raised more than $7.7 million to date, and today the company is announcing it will extend the campaign through Oct. 20.
Overall, more than $23 million has been committed and raised by customers and members in the past two weeks to support communities recovering from both hurricanes.
“We are heartbroken for our communities dealing with the damage caused by Hurricane Milton. Walmart, our associates and our customers always step up when there’s a need, and the support we’ve seen throughout the past two storms has been overwhelming,” said John Furner, president and CEO, Walmart U.S. “Florida can expect us to continue to step up for them, just as we’ve been doing for those in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.”
“This is the second time in two weeks that our country has felt the toll of a major hurricane impacting the communities Sam’s Club calls home,” said Chris Nicholas, president and CEO, Sam’s Club. “We are moving quickly to make sure our associates and members are safe, and we are extending our support today to make sure communities suffering from both hurricanes have what they need in the long run.”
Before Hurricane Milton made landfall, Walmart and Sam’s Club started working with local leaders and relief organizations to assess needs and help communities prepare. The company pre-positioned more than 300 refrigerated trucks and over 500 truckloads of water and merchandise to locations in the storm’s path.
The company provided evacuation assistance to more than 5,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club associates before the storm, and the company will continue prioritizing their safety and wellbeing. In addition, Walmart and Sam’s Club have provided associates with support pay for those scheduled to work while their stores or clubs are closed, as well as mental health resources.
With loss of homes and power impacting millions, Walmart and Sam’s Club have been working with nonprofit organizations to bring resources such as charging stations, food and hot meals, water distributions, shower and laundry to our parking lots in affected areas, as it is safe to do so. To support the thousands of Floridians who evacuated, the company is also working closely with shelters to provide essential supplies. As part of the effort this week, the Walmart Foundation will support the Hispanic Federation, Meals on Wheels and Volunteer Florida to meet immediate needs.
We will be updating a list of those resources, as well as store and club closures in communities affected by Hurricane Milton, along with more information on community support for communities affected by Hurricane Helene.
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