Donations Persist Long After Waters Recede
Six months after Hurricane Helene struck East Tennessee, the physical damage has faded, but churches and ministries remain inundated with donations. First Baptist Church of Roan Mountain, which became an early hub for relief, still has 20 pallets of bottled water and about 10,000 toothbrushes. Storage rooms and trailers are filled with clothes, revealing the long tail of disaster generosity.
Clothes Donations Overwhelm Local Ministries
Relief organizations are struggling with what experts call the “second disaster”—the deluge of clothing donations. Unlike water or hygiene products, clothes must be sorted by size and condition, making distribution difficult. At Unicoi County Care and Share, donations from 25 states overwhelmed available storage. Director Ben Booher described rooms stuffed from wall to wall and volunteers working 12-hour days to manage the volume.
Well-Meaning Giving Often Misaligned with Needs
Though intentions are good, experts and church leaders agree that clothing donations often miss the mark. Pastor Anthony Mullins of County Line Community Church recalled receiving bags of musty clothes unsuitable for flood victims. Academic studies suggest donors are driven by a mix of compassion and a desire to declutter—“purging with a purpose”—but often overlook practical usefulness.
Financial Gifts Offer Greater Flexibility
Experts argue that financial donations are more impactful. Money can be redirected to urgent or long-term needs like home repairs, especially in areas with low flood insurance rates. Organizations like Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry and Care and Share used financial gifts to purchase heaters and building supplies. Transparency about how funds are used can ease donor concerns about mismanagement.
Churches Still Digging Out from the Donation Flood
Churches like First Baptist in Roan Mountain continue to grapple with leftover donations. Bible studies have become cleanup parties, and some clothes were redirected to Goodwill. Booher and others emphasize that while generosity is appreciated, smart giving—including monetary donations—has the greatest long-term impact.
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Donated Clothes Still Being Sorted in Appalachia
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