Helpful Tips for Donating
An aerial view of a flooded city with a bridge over a river.

Hurricane Helene Volunteer and Donations – How to Help

There is a great outpouring of support from individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout the country to help those affected by Hurricane Helene across the Southeast.

Donations and volunteers can be extremely helpful after a disaster, and meet the needs of the victims, the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs), non-profits, community and faith-based organizations, and the government officials involved in the response. Unfortunately, donated goods and volunteers that are not specifically necessary can cause more confusion and hurt relief efforts. Coordinating donated money, goods, and volunteer efforts after a disaster ensures that survivors get help effectively and efficiently.



CASH IS BEST

The best way to help people after a disaster is to donate cash to a recognized disaster relief organization. Monetary donations allow charitable organizations the flexibility to purchase items that are needed most, and, unlike material donations, cash donations entail no transportation costs. Cash donations avoid the process of collecting, sorting, and transporting donated goods. Cash donations may be tax deductible.

Cash donations allow relief organizations to:

  • fund response and recovery efforts
  • get goods and services and
  • give financial aid to survivors.


Do not send unsolicited goods. It is important that prior to collecting any relief items, donors should contact the receiving local or national relief organization to verify the need and to make necessary transportation arrangements. Failure to do this will result in personnel, time, space, and money being spent to process uncoordinated items and will further detract from the resources being available to provide direct support to those affected by the disaster.


  • Donate goods that are specifically requested or needed by recognized organizations. Contact your chosen organization before starting to collect or donate.
  • Make a food donation to a local food bank that may distribute food to those impacted by the disaster.


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VOLUNTEER


FIND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES HERE


  • Get involved with a disaster relief organization before a disaster happens. They can provide the necessary training to help when a disaster occurs.
  • Don't self-deploy to a disaster zone. Local officials will give specific instructions about how to volunteer. You can also check with volunteer organizations to learn about opportunities to help.
  • Be patient. Sometimes the need for volunteers is greater during the recovery period.


Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) members and partners are assisting communities in need. They will serve these communities as long as necessary. For a list of organizations involved in disaster response in the affected areas, visit their websites. Visit the social media sites of disaster relief organizations for more information.

Alabamians can help those in need by donating and volunteering responsibly. These donation and volunteer tips apply to disaster relief efforts within Alabama, across the country, and internationally.

Volunteer, Donation Resources for Affected Southeast States



Florida


Georgia


North Carolina


South Carolina


Tennessee


Alabama - Alabama VOAD (alvoad.org)
Florida - FLVOAD (wpengine.com)
Georgia - Georgia VOAD (gavoad.org)

North Carolina - North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (ncvoad.org)
South Carolina - //SCemd.org/recover/volunteer-and-donate/
Tennessee - Tennessee VOAD (tnvoad.org)



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OTHER INFO

Locating Loved Ones

Family and friends are encouraged to check social network sites for information about your loved ones. American Red Cross is helping find loved ones through their helpline 1-800-RED-CROSS or complete this form online: https://rdcrss.org/3TQPblL.  If someone is missing a child related to this disaster or any other incident, they need to call 9-1-1 and then 1-800-THE-LOST to receive assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Find Help Near You. 2-1-1 provides individuals with the latest information and essential community services. It is the most comprehensive source of information about local resources and services available in the country. Call 2-1-1 or (888) 421-1266. Call 7-1-1 if you are hearing-impaired and ask to be connected to 2-1-1 Connects Alabama. In Alabama visit: //www.211connectsalabama.org/

If you are an organization providing resources, please call 2-1-1 or call 1-888-421-1266.

For additional volunteer opportunities visit https://serveal.galaxydigital.com/.  If you want more information on how to donate responsibly and need assistance in connecting with an organization involved in disaster response efforts, please email info@ServeAlabama.gov or call 334-242-1549.



Governor’s Office of Volunteer Services
Main line: 334-242-1549
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. for business calls
Email: info@ServeAlabama.gov
Physical Address: 401 Adams Avenue, Suite 312, Montgomery, AL 36104
www.servealabama.gov

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Star Spangled Homewood

June 11, 2026
Star Spangled Homewood is a community fundraiser and patriotic decorating contest celebrating Homewood's Centennial and America's 250th anniversary. At the heart of this effort are three organizations that serve our community throughout the year: the Homewood Police Foundation , the Homewood Fire Foundation , and the Homewood Patriot Band . A $25 donation to any of these organizations goes directly to the one you choose, and in return, you will receive a commemorative Star Spangled Homewood yard sign. A second way to participate is through a decorating contest. Between now and June 26, residents, businesses, and even entire streets can put up patriotic displays in their areas. Judging will take place July 1 through July 3 with categories that include Best Home, Best Business, Best Street, and Best HWD100 Spirit, with special Homewood themed prizes awarded to the winners. To donate, register, or learn more, visit starspangledhwd.com . Questions? Connect with Ward 3 Councilor Chris Lane: chrislaneward3@gmail.com .

Comprehensive Plan

June 10, 2026
The early results from citizen engagement offers a very positive picture of how residents feel about the city, while also helping shape priorities for the future. And citizen-survey responses showed overwhelming satisfaction with quality of life in Homewood, especially when it comes to schools, parks, public safety, and neighborhood character. At the same time, residents made it clear they want to protect what makes Homewood special while continuing to address important challenges like traffic, drainage, sidewalks, infrastructure, and connectivity across the city. Feedback from workshops and surveys will help guide long term planning discussions as Homewood works on a roadmap for the next 25 years. Homewood’s current Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2007. Since then, a lot has changed, and more change is coming. With the city moving to a Council-Manager form of government , this is a key time to clarify what matters most to residents. The plan will help inform capital improvements, public service priorities, housing trends, transportation needs, and future land use. It will also give newly elected officials clear direction on what the community values. Your Voice, Your City Every resident will have a chance to be involved. This isn’t just a document, it’s a shared vision for Homewood’s future, shaped by the people who live here. The plan will reflect the needs of each of the city’s four wards and identify short, medium, and long-term projects for both public and private investment. Whether it's about where new housing fits, what kinds of businesses we want, or how we move around, this process is about making those choices together. Previous Meetings PUBLIC MEETING 4 Wednesday, May 20, 2026 PUBLIC MEETING 3 Tuesday, May 19, 2026 WATCH VIDEO VIEW PRESENTATION PUBLIC MEETING 2 Thursday, January 29, 2026 PUBLIC MEETING 1 Wednesday, January 28, 2026 WATCH WORKSHOP VIDEO

On-Demand Rides Coming to Homewood

June 10, 2026
Microtransit is officially coming to Homewood, adding an on-demand option to move around our city. It works just like ride sharing whereby riders will be able to request a trip through an app and get picked up nearby, with routes designed in real time to keep trips efficient and wait times low. The service is expected to begin in early July and will provide point-to-point transportation anywhere within the city limits for just $1.50 per trip. We'll be sharing additional details soon, including how to download the app, request rides, service hours, and other information to help residents get started. How the pilot is being funded? The initial phase, running from July 2026 through September 2027, is fully funded through the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham , at about $792,000. This allows the city to launch the service without immediate long-term cost commitments. After that, projected annual costs are expected to be around $610,000 to $630,000, depending on how the service is adjusted over time, with up to three vehicles operating during set service hours. This pilot approach gives Homewood time to see how people actually use the system, where demand is strongest, and how the service can be refined. It also keeps flexibility built in, with the ability to adjust hours, coverage, and fleet size based on real data. City leaders are optimistic that this will become a convenient and meaningful way for many in our community to get where they need to go. To learn more about this program check here: https://maxtransit.org/ondemand/ You can also VIEW THE PRESENTATION presented to the Council on April 13, 2026.

Data Centers & Hemp Licenses

June 9, 2026
Two popular topics were discussed during the June 8 Pre-Council meeting. These were Alabama's new consumable hemp product licensing law and the possibility of a temporary moratorium related to data centers.  It is important to note that these were discussion items only. No decisions were made, and no policies were adopted on either topic. To move these forward, they would return through the public Pre-Council and Council meeting process for additional discussion and consideration before any action is taken. Data Center Moratorium The data center discussion focused on whether Homewood should consider a moratorium on data center applications while zoning regulations are reviewed. A moratorium would pause the acceptance and review of any new data center applications. There have been questions about a proposed data center project near Lakeshore Parkway. As clarification, that project is located within the City of Birmingham and is subject to Birmingham's approval process, not Homewood's. Hemp Licenses Homewood's City attorneys provided information about Alabama's recently enacted licensing system for consumable hemp products. Under state law, cities play a role in the license application process, but the ABC Board makes the final decision on whether to approve a license and enforces the laws on what can be sold under the license. There are three license categories to be considered, shown below. Municipalities can allow any number of them, all of them, or none of them: 1. Licenses for grocery stores to sell certain beverages. 2. Licenses for pharmacies to sell certain pharmacy-related products. 3. Specialty retailer licenses, which are only for package stores and standalone hemp retailers.

Pre-Council & Council Meetings June 8, 2026

June 9, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - June 8, 2026

Riding Safely

June 8, 2026
Electric scooters, e-bikes, golf carts, and other small vehicles have become a common part of everyday life in Homewood. While many may look similar, Alabama law treats them very differently. Many residents are surprised to learn that these may be legally classified as motor vehicles and are subject to licensing, insurance, registration, and safety requirements. These are not City of Homewood regulations. They are requirements established by Alabama state law that the Homewood Police Department must follow. We are sharing this information to help residents understand the rules, avoid violations, and stay safe. A Note for Parents Parents are often surprised to learn that Alabama law may hold them responsible if a child operates certain vehicles without the required license, insurance, registration, helmet, shoes, or other required safety equipment. State law may also hold parents responsible if they knowingly allow a child to violate traffic laws while operating these vehicles. Because of that, it may be good to take the time to understand the rules that apply to what you may purchase and allow to operate.

BZA Meeting June 4, 2026

June 6, 2026
100 Acton Avenue; The homeowner requested a variance to extend the existing nonconforming rear wall of the house by six feet in order to move the laundry area from a detached garage into the home. The request was presented as an aging-in-place improvement for longtime residents, with discussion about the home's unusual layout, roof design, plumbing issues in the garage, and limited alternatives for relocating the laundry room. Board members questioned other possible locations for the addition and whether the expansion was necessary. After discussion, the request was denied. 609 Morris Boulevard; The applicant did not appear for the hearing and there had been no recent communication with the board. After a brief discussion, the board voted to postpone the case to the July 9 meeting to allow the applicant another opportunity to present the request. Carried over. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4fTi10m

Planning Commission June 2, 2026

June 3, 2026
The Planning Commission had a short agenda this month, focusing on two property related items. 617 Warwick Road: This request involved a resurvey and lot line adjustment between the two properties after a fence issue and a property transfer between neighboring owners. The updated survey reconfigured the lots to match the new property ownership and boundaries. No public comments were made, and the Planning Commission approved the resurvey request. Approved. 1832 25th Court South: The City of Homewood requested a rezoning to correct an inconsistency created when a portion of property near the Lee Community Center was sold and combined with an existing residential lot. The change would place the entire parcel under a single zoning classification and bring the zoning map in line with the current property boundaries and land use. Commissioners noted the change would not affect the active Lee Community Center property and would simply make the combined parcel consistent with surrounding residential uses. The Planning Commission approved the rezoning request and forwarded it to the City Council with a positive recommendation. Added to the council meeting. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4dVER59

Homewood Has Healthy Finances at Mid-Year

May 19, 2026
VIEW PRESENTATION On the heels of the positive feedback from residents through the citizen survey , there's more encouraging news, the City’s mid-year financial position is trending in the right direction! At last night's Pre-Council meeting, City Manager Cale Smith presented a strong mid-year budget review showing revenues continue trending ahead of last year while spending remains below 50% halfway through the fiscal year. The City has healthy reserve levels, a current surplus, and has been careful with spending across departments as planning continues for future capital projects and long term financial stability. The Council also discussed a proposed early retirement incentive program for employees already eligible for retirement. This proposal is designed as a benefit for longtime employees, not necessarily as a direct cost savings measure. Similar programs are commonly used in nearby municipalities. You can view the Powerpoint above, or watch the video from that meetings to learn more. Find those subjects at these times: 00:08:15 Early Retirement Incentive 00:32:18 Mid Year Budget Review 

Pre-Council & Council Meetings May 18, 2026

May 19, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - May 18, 2026 The May 18 Pre Council discussion focused on the city’s mid year budget review, with revenues trending ahead of last year and expenses staying just under the halfway mark for the year. Council also discussed a possible early retirement incentive, public works storage improvements, the US 31 pedestrian tunnel landscaping agreement, and future financial policy updates. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4dsE4bw
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