I'll try to keep this short and sweet. If you're looking for my usual book recommendations, what I'm reading, what I'm writing, etc. THIS IS NOT THAT newsletter. THIS is something far closer to my heart.

Hurricane Helene hit and she hit HARD. Entire communities are gone and thousands need help now and for months to come as they have lost everything.

So I'm here today asking if your heart is led to help, please consider donating or volunteering to help in the recovery efforts for the victims of Hurricane Helene.

Here are some unique ways to make a real difference:

Donate your vacation rental or hotel room. If you have an upcoming trip planned, consider donating your reservation to someone who has lost their home.

Remember the furry friends. Shelters are overwhelmed with displaced pets. Donate to or volunteer at local animal rescues.

Organize a neighborhood donation drive. Focus on collecting specific items like non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, and hygiene products.

Provide medical support. Oxygen tanks, first aid kits, and other medical supplies are CRITICALLY needed.

Offer your skills and expertise. Are you a contractor, therapist, or have other skills that could be useful? Volunteer your time to TRUSTED organizations and help with rebuilding efforts.

Here are a few trusted sources...

United Cajun Navy is seeking volunteers. https://unitedcajunnavy.org/tag/volunteer/

Operation Airdrop Help at hickory airport with donations sorting https://www.operation-airdrop.com/.../www.operation.../

Buncombe County needs volunteers! Email helenevolunteers@buncombecounty.org

Samaritan's Purse is accepting day volunteers if, you can access the areas they are in safely. If you have somewhere to stay within a couple of hours you can show up & volunteer multiple days.

https://www.spvolunteer.org/

Baptists on Mission Disaster Relief Ministry has boots on the ground and is looking for volunteers.

https://baptistsonmission.org/Mission.../By-Mission-Type/DR

Hurricane Helene Airlift Relief is in DIRE need of more donations for delivery. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566554308647

World Central Kitchen is looking for volunteers. https://wck.org/volunteer

All Hands and Hearts need volunteers and donations https://www.allhandsandhearts.org/.../hurricane-helene.../

Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference.

Entire communities are GONE. Towns in rubble. The death toll rises daily with hundreds still missing. People's entire homes, family-owned businesses, cars, farmer's livestock, all of it... GONE. Some areas are still inaccessible due to floods, mudslides, and large sections of roads washed away.

You may have seen some pictures and videos on social media and television. These cannot come close to the helplessness and grief the people in these communities are feeling.

I just want to stress that the initial sprint of the race has been blessed with a great outpouring of donations and prayers. However, recovery will be a long marathon. They are estimating weeks to months to restore power; months to years to repair the roads that washed away and make certain populated areas difficult to access except by aircraft or mule packs (yes, I said mule packs); and it will take years for some folks to recover for they lost everything.

Thank you.