We have all seen the devastation that Hurricane Helene has caused from Ft Myers in Florida up into the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Hardest hit were the residents of the Asheville area. Moving forward, we need to fill the supply chain for not only our members in Western North Carolina but all our Union kin affected by the storm. Please see the shipping instructions below and view the list of items below.
Local 479 has generously offered to be a reception center for donations of material good. Here is how you can help — Use COSTCO to purchase needed items and have them delivered to Local 479. Please consider ordering in bulk for maximum effectiveness of your donation.
Their delivery address is:
Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief
IATSE Local 479
4220 International Parkway
Atlanta GA 30354
Attention: Nikki or Dennis
Since last Friday, the Disaster Response Committee has been working first to communicate with the Locals in the affected areas and then to put in place a supply chain so that relief supplies can get to those in the most need as quickly as possible.
By last Sunday evening we had established contact with most of the Locals in the disaster areas. We are pleased to report that there were no member fatalities or major health issues were reported to us.
On Monday, we reached out to Local 479 in Atlanta to begin coordinating relief supplies. They were the closest Local to all three potentially badly affected locations – Tallahassee, Augusta and Asheville – that had space and personnel to help. They spent $2,500 to purchase the first pallets of water and ice. In coordination with our Teamster kin, the first batch of water (7 pallets) and ice was delivered to Local 629 in August by Tuesday evening.
Tuesday saw the opening of a route into Asheville and better communications. District 7 sent a $10,000 check to Local 479 to continue to purchase needed items.
Wednesday evening, the first IA load arrived in Asheville but had to wait until this morning to be unloaded because of the curfew in the area.
For monetary donations, please send checks to:
Walsh / Di Tolla / Spivak Foundation
207 West 25th Street 4th Floor
New York NY 10001
As you know, the Walsh / Di Tolla / Spivak Foundation is the IA’s charity entity that assists members in need after catastrophic event.
In addition, the AFL-CIO Union Community Fund is collecting contributions that will be distributed to support families in the impacted areas, in coordination with state federations in Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee.
We are not forgetting about our kin in the other areas. As we hear of needs there, we will be directing supplies.
In solidarity,
The Disaster Response Committee
ITEMS NEEDED:
IMMEDIATE NEED (expendable)
- Water
- MRE’s
- Toilet paper
- Paper towel
- Handi-wipes –sanitizing
- Hand sanitizer – small bottles
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
- Disinfecting hand soap
- Feminine hygiene supplies
- Diapers
- Baby food
- Pet food
- Bleach
- Batteries – various sizes
- Water purifying tablets
REMEDIATION (expendable)
- N95/N100 particulate masks
- Tyvek suits – several sizes
- Rubber gloves – various sizes
- Hard hats
- Eye protection
- Trash bags
- Compactor bags
- 5-gallon buckets
- Cleaning supplies
- Disinfecting products
- Mold remediation products
- Scrub brushes
- Sponges
- Shovels
- Brooms and dust pans
- Squeegees – hand and handle versions