As Florida and the Southern United States begin to recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, several prominent figures from film, music, and sports are stepping up to help.
On Wednesday, Feeding America publicly thanked Taylor Swift for her generous donation of $5 million to support hurricane relief efforts across Florida, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Tennessee as Hurricane Milton approached the state.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Taylor Swift for her generous donation,” said Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot in a statement. “This contribution will help communities rebuild and recover, providing essential food, clean water, and supplies to people affected by these devastating storms. Together, we can make a real impact in supporting families as they navigate the challenges ahead. Thank you, Taylor, for standing with us in the movement to end hunger and for helping communities in need.”
Babineaux-Fontenot also expressed appreciation for Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, who donated $1 million to the organization. “Their longtime support of Feeding America in times of crisis has helped our network on the ground before, during, and after disasters,” she noted. “These funds will help food banks provide basic needs like water, ready-to-eat food, and supplies to communities facing heartbreaking loss and a long recovery.”
Since Hurricane Helene made landfall, Feeding America has deployed over 140 truckloads of food, water, and other relief supplies to 11 food banks across the affected regions.
On Thursday, Tom Brady announced a donation of $100,000 to the relief efforts, which was matched by Give with Gopuff. In a statement on X, he urged, “Keep those impacted by these storms in your prayers, look out for your neighbors, and continue to help out anyway you’re able. Stay safe, and stay strong, Florida.”
Additionally, last week, Dolly Parton made a $1 million donation to Mountain Ways, which offers immediate relief to regions in East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and the Appalachian area. Her donation was matched by her Dollywood Foundation and other businesses.
“I am totally with you because I am part of you,” Parton said during a press conference. “I have a lot of my own relatives that live here, and when we heard about this it was devastating, not just because it was my family, but because all these people feel like my people. We all feel related, and we are in some sort of way. So it just devastated me just to know that we had to suffer like that.”
Parton further emphasized, “You’re never prepared, you just try to step up. God has been good to me, and so has the public, and I feel like if there’s anything I can do to give back in any way I can, I’m always willing to do that.”
Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida on Wednesday, resulting in at least 13 confirmed deaths and leaving 3 million people without power. The state is still reeling from the impact of Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that caused at least five fatalities in Florida and over 200 deaths elsewhere.
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