“All Hands on Deck” in Response to Hurricane Matthew

As the ECU family continues to come together in communities across the region in the wake of Hurricane Matthew and the resulting floods, many of you have been asking how you can help.

The East Carolina Alumni Association has partnered with the ECU Students’ Treasure Chest and the American Red Cross to provide information on how you can volunteer, give, or donate toward their efforts to help thousands of people affected by the recent storms in our area. Whether you live in eastern North Carolina or on the other side of the country, you can do your part to pitch in and help our neighbors and fellow Pirates.

“Hurricane Matthew has devastated our communities and recovery will be a group effort. Volunteers, partner organizations, and state and local officials will work together day and night until every need is met,” said Barry Porter, regional chief executive officer of the Red Cross in Eastern NC. “And while the storm has passed, we’re not out of the woods yet. We expect most of the rivers to crest mid-week and cause additional flooding. Red Cross will be on the ground for weeks to come.”

Here is how you can help, Pirate Nation!

• Volunteer.
  Red Cross is also seeking nurses and disaster mental health volunteers to assist in shelters. Volunteering is easy. To sign up to assist, visit http://redcross.org and click on “volunteer” to start your application.

• Give.
  In parts of the country unaffected by the storm, the Red Cross needs eligible individuals to please give blood or platelets now to help ensure we have a readily available blood supply for patients in need. Even before the threat of Hurricane Matthew, there was an urgent need for donors of all blood types, especially type O. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting http://redcrossblood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

• Donate to help support ECU students in need.
  The Students’ Treasure Chest at ECU helps support students who may be facing difficulties, including those caused by Hurricane Matthew. You can give online at www.ecu.edu/give/studentlife – selecting our “Students’ Treasure Chest Assistance Fund” or email Give2ECU@ecu.edu to get in touch with someone who can take your gift over the phone.

• Donate to the Red Cross.
  The Red Cross depends on donations to provide immediate relief. You can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or texting the word MATTHEW to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Do you need shelter? Download the Red Cross Emergency App on your smartphone, or call 1-800-768-8048 to find a shelter near you.