Retailers offer support to communities impacted by hurricanes

Retailers, including Hy-Vee, Publix, Dollar General, Walgreens, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Target are stepping up efforts to provide support to communities impacted by the two recent hurricanes. 

Hy-Vee started an in-store register round up campaign on Thursday, Oct. 10 at all Hy-Vee grocery stores, Dollar Fresh Markets and Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh locations. Customers can round up their purchases to the nearest dollar during checkout at the store, and all donations will go to the American Red Cross to help individuals and families affected by the hurricanes. The register round up will continue through Friday, Oct. 25.

"Hy-Vee has a long tradition of helping communities in need," said Jeremy Gosch, Hy-Vee’s chairman and CEO. "We know our customers are just as concerned as we are about the welfare of those impacted by these devastating storms, and this is one way we can help those who need assistance as quickly as possible."

In addition to the round up, Hy-Vee also has donated disaster relief supplies to its partners providing assistance in the South, including the supply of a large generator/semi; two semis filled with supplies for nonprofit Operation BBQ Relief to feed those in need; and the donation of a truckload of water to Feeding America-affiliated food banks in the impacted areas.

[Read more: Walmart, Sam’s Club, Walmart Foundation commit $10M to Hurricane Helene relief efforts]

In addition to rounding up at the register, Hy-Vee offers ways that people can assist the American Red Cross:

• Volunteer. Volunteers carry out 90% of the work of the Red Cross. The nonprofit organization is always in need of trained volunteers to help with sheltering, health services and other urgent needs. Learn more about their most needed positions by visiting redcross.org/volunteertoday.
• Blood Donations. During natural disasters such as hurricanes, blood banks in the impacted areas receive less blood and platelet donations. Schedule a blood or platelet donation appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).
•  Funds. Individuals can also make a financial donation directly to the American Red Cross by mail, phone or online at redcross.org/donate.

Dollar General's efforts including donating an additional $1 million to the American Red Cross to support the response and recovery efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The donation complements the company’s recent partnership extension announcement with the American Red Cross bringing DG’s annual support to more than $1.2 million. To date, Dollar General and its Foundations have contributed more than $2 million through various partnerships and initiatives to disaster relief support in 2024.

“In the wake of the devastating impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we are proud to support the Red Cross’ efforts to help restore hope during this time of recovery and rebuilding,” said Denine Torr, Dollar General’s vice president of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. “We continue to leverage our vast store and distribution center footprint across the impacted areas in addition to our various non-profit partnerships and initiatives to help our neighbors and communities impacted by the recent storms.”

“The American Red Cross is working around the clock to help people affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene,” said Cliff Holtz, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “In the wake of these damaging and destructive storms, we are thankful for Dollar General’s generosity as we work with partners to deliver essential relief supplies, safe shelter, comfort and hope to impacted communities.”

[Read more: Dollar General partners with World Central Kitchen in wake of Hurricane Francine]

Dollar General said is committed to being Here for What Matters for its employees, customers and neighbors following the impact of natural disasters. The following partnerships and initiatives are examples of how DG and its Foundations are supporting its hometown communities in need:

American Red Cross: In addition to DG’s annual donation of $250,000 to its Disaster Responder Program to provide safe shelter, hot meals, emotional support and resources to those affected by natural disasters, the company awarded an additional $1 million to hurricane response. DG customers can join relief efforts by donating to the American Red Cross during check-out at any DG store.

World Central Kitchen’s Rapid Response Field Kitchen, created in partnership with Dollar General, is currently on the ground providing nourishing meals to those affected by the recent hurricanes.

Feeding America is receiving product donations and volunteers from DG distribution centers and stores to aid its affiliated food banks across Appalachia and the Southeast.

DG Employee Assistance Foundation is providing financial support to impacted employees.

Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s Beyond Words program is accepting applications at www.dgliteracy.org for grants to impacted public school libraries to help them rebuild and restore book collections.

Kids In Need Foundation’s Second Responder program distributes essential school supplies to students and teachers during the aftermath of a disaster.

Publix shared that its customers and associates have donated more than $1 million to support disaster relief efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Helene. 

All funds collected at the register will go to the American Red Cross to help people recover from this disaster. 

“Our thoughts continue to be with the people who have been affected by Hurricane Helene,” said Publix director of community relations Dwaine Stevens. “The generosity of our customers and associates is inspiring and will be a vital resource to areas recovering from the storm.” 

Additionally, Publix Super Markets Charities donated $1 million to help disaster relief following Hurricane Helene. Publix also is donating tractor-trailer loads of water and other supplies to help areas affected by the storm.

As the country takes toll of significant destruction left by Hurricane Helene, Walmart, Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation shared that they increased their commitment to $10 million, up from $6 million, to support time-sensitive relief efforts across impacted communities in Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina and Tennessee.

“These aren’t just places where we have stores. These are communities where we work and live, and our hearts are broken for our friends and neighbors,” said John Furner, president and CEO, Walmart U.S. “This is one of the most widespread and destructive storms I’ve seen in my 31 years with Walmart. But I’ve also seen over 31 years that Walmart associates always step up when needed. It's who we are and who we will continue to be. We’ll support people and communities until they’ve recovered.”

Since Hurricane Helene made landfall, Walmart has been working around the clock with local leaders and relief organizations to assess needs and quickly deliver critical aid to nearly 100 communities across the area. Essential resources such as charging stations, food and hot meals, water distributions, showers and laundry are available at many store and club parking lots across Appalachia and the Southeast. An updated list of resources available in the affected communities is here.

Thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club associates have been serving their customers, members and communities during this difficult time, and many were impacted by the storm themselves. As Walmart and Sam’s Club associates are supporting their communities, the company has been supporting them, connecting with associates to provide evacuation assistance, support pay and essentials like food, showers and laundry, as well as mental health resources.

Walgreens announced that the company is focused on the safety and well-being of its patients, customers and team members and have taken precautions to support areas impacted by Hurricane Milton. Walgreens has positioned resources and are actively deploying them as needed. Walgreens encourages patients to check its store locator to find the closest open pharmacy to them. 

Target said that it continues to step up to support the many communities its team members and guests call home. For example, in advance of Hurricane Helene, Target lined up resources before the storm even made landfall. This included donating $1.5 million to national disaster relief partners such as The American Red Cross, Team Rubicon, SBP and Feeding America to help them immediately provide food, medicine, financial aid and more. 

The retailer also gave Target GiftCards to first responders and local nonprofits so they could purchase supplies on the spot. Meanwhile, Target's supply chain and stores teams positioned thousands of pallets of relief supplies, from water and food to flashlights, before and after the storm hit.

After Helene, Target tapped a resource it first piloted in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian: Team Member Resource Centers. These relief stations provide essential supplies and services as well as basic comforts to affected team members and their families. For Hurricane Helene, Target activated five care sites in Asheville and Arden, North Carolina; Augusta and Valdosta, Georgia; and Lake City, Florida. About 1,000 team members and their families have visited its resource centers.

Beyond the many supplies that these resource centers distribute — which have included more than 50,000 items like food, water, baby wipes and surge protectors — team members also found fuel, restrooms, shower and laundry facilities and even games for the kids. “The ability to just go and take a shower and wash some laundry made me feel like I was setting down a load that I didn’t even know I was carrying,” said JJ Sollinger, operations director at Target's distribution center in Tifton, Ga. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what this team is doing to support the team here.”

Through Target's benefits program, team members also could get virtual counseling.