Disaster Donations

The most impactful donation you can give is money. Financial contributions serve as the most useful form of disaster assistance. Monetary donations ensure that victims are getting the assistance they need in a timely manner. Any donation is appreciated and never goes unnoticed. Whether you can donate $5 or $500, you are guaranteed to make a meaningful impact.

Local organizations that can distribute financial donations to individuals impacted by disasters within Sevier County are:

Mountain Tough

Sevier County Community Fund

Sevier County Community Fund was established in 2016 by a group of community leaders and businesses who wanted to make a lasting commitment to the people of Sevier County by developing a resource to achieve community goals and promote Sevier County after wildfires destroyed hundreds of Sevier County homes and businesses. The Sevier County Community Fund is a permanent endowment that has been created to support opportunities to advance and improve the quality of life of the residents of Sevier County.

Blood is always needed – especially during a disaster. MEDIC Regional Blood Center accepts blood donations frequently. Click below to see when their next blood drive is:

Although unsolicited donated goods are appreciated, oftentimes they create more harm than good. Unnecessary donated items can create limited capacity of personnel and delay delivery of needed items to victims. Before donating food or supplies, check with local disaster agencies to ensure there is a need. For disasters affecting Sevier County, we recommend providing financial donations to Mountain Tough and/or to the East Tennessee Foundation – Sevier County Community Fund.

Non-financial donations can be made to:

Food:

Clothing & Non-Food Items:

1. First, confirm there is a need.

2. Consider making a financial donation to a disaster relief agency of your choice. Some local disaster relief agencies include:
a. Mountain Tough – Visit Site
b. Salvation Army – Visit Site
c. East Tennessee Foundation – Sevier County Community Fund – Visit Site

3. Do NOT go directly to the disaster scene.

4. Do NOT donate items that are not needed – oftentimes this creates a second disaster because these items compete with essential relief goods for the limited capacity of personnel and operating facilities and can delay delivery of needed items for victims.

5. Wait. Check-in frequently with local media outlets and disaster relief agencies to see if additional assistance is needed.

1. Affiliate with existing non-profit organizations before coming to the disaster area. This will help ensure that you are appropriately trained to respond in the most efficient way.

2. Do not self-deploy until a need has been identified and the local community impacted has requested support. Once assigned a position, make sure you have been given an assignment and are wearing proper safety gear for the task. Your safety comes first!

3. Consider volunteering for a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). A CERT member is a person who is trained to prepare for and respond after a disaster in their neighborhood — anyone who is interested in helping his or her neighborhood prepare for a disaster and aid afterward.

4. Tennessee Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (TNVOAD) is a great resource for those who want to contribute/volunteer pre and post-disaster. TNVOAD brings together voluntary organizations, government agencies and others, to foster more efficient service to people affected by disasters in the State of Tennessee. Learn more about how to be a TNVOAD member here:

What is CERT:

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is a nationally supported, locally implemented initiative that teaches people how to better prepare themselves for hazards that may affect their communities. Since 1993, CERT trains the public in basic disaster response skills such as team organization, disaster medical operations, fire safety, and light search and rescue. The ability for CERT volunteers to perform these activities frees up professional responders to focus their efforts on more complex, essential, and critical tasks.

Get Involved with CERT

Before, during, and after disasters, CERT volunteer teams perform basic response activities, including checking in on neighbors, distributing information to the public, supporting emergency operations centers, and helping to manage traffic and crowds. Local CERT programs train and organize teams of volunteers to assist their families, neighbors, co-workers, and other community members during emergencies when professional responders may not be immediately available to provide assistance. CERT offers various opportunities with you in mind.