Businesses around Charlotte step up to support Florence relief efforts

In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, a number of local and national businesses are stepping up to lend a hand and donate funds to aid communities affected by the storm, which has been linked to at least 42 deaths in the Carolinas and Virginia.

Florence is estimated to have dumped 10 trillion gallons of rain on the Carolinas, enough to fill the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium, according to a recent estimate from UC Berkeley. Heavy rains led to widespread flooding in many parts of North and South Carolina. After the storm passed, river levels continue to rise throughout the Carolinas.

More than 30,000 households remain without power in the Carolinas a week after Florence made landfall, according to Duke Energy.

In short, cleanup and recovery is just beginning.

Below is a running list of some of the organizations that are supplying relief, whether it’s in the form of financial donations, supplies or service hours. If you have any others to add, please reach out to kperalta@charlotteobserver.com.

▪ Legion Brewing: At its two locations (Plaza Midwood and SouthPark), the brewery is donating $1 from every crowler sale on Friday to Florence relief efforts. Throughout the weekend, Legion will also be collecting donations of the following items for Florence victims: mildewcide, dehumidifiers, packing boxes, wipes, diapers, formula, feminine hygiene products, cases of water, non-perishable food, batteries and flashlights.

▪ Perdue Farms: The poultry processing company is coordinating with Feeding America to donate several truckloads of food and Perdue chicken, the equivalent of 416,000 meals, to affected areas in the Carolinas. The company is also donating $250,000 to local American Red Cross chapters.

▪ Lowe’s: The Mooresville-based home improvement retailer is committing $2 million to support hurricane relief efforts in the Carolinas. As part of that, Lowe’s also gave away 500 free meals and supplies at four of its coastal stores Thursday — NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson volunteered at a Wilmington store for the event.

▪ Kendra Scott: On Saturday, the jeweler is donating 50 percent of all online sales to the North Carolina Diaper Bank and the South Carolina Diaper Bank to support Florence relief efforts.

▪ Walmart: The retailer has raised over $2.5 million in donations from customers for hurricane relief efforts, which will trigger a $5 million match donation from Walmart, for the Hurricane Relief Fund at Foundation For The Carolinas. The funds will support shelter, food, comfort and emergency assistance for those affected by the storm.

▪ Google: The tech giant said it will match up to $1 million in donations to support hurricane relief through the American Red Cross. Donations can be made online here.

▪ The Cowfish: The SouthPark restaurant is working with Carolinas Panther running back Fozzy Whittaker to host an event Tuesday, during which Whittaker and a few teammates will serve dinner to guests from 4:30-8 p.m. The Cowfish will donate $3 for every entrée sold to a Florence relief fund set up by Foundation For The Carolinas. Whittaker and his wife, Jasmine, last year hosted a similar fundraiser at The Cowfish to benefit victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Whittaker’s hometown.

▪ Charlotte Knights: On Wednesday from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. at BB&T Ballpark, the baseball team is accepting donations of cases of bottled water and boxes of diapers to benefit the Florence victims through the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Additionally, the team will donate a portion of the proceeds of any Uptown Rundown 5K registrations using the coupon code ONECAROLINA to Florence relief efforts. The race takes place at the ballpark on Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m. Registration is available online at CharlotteKnights.com/UptownRundown.

▪ Charlotte Hornets: Members of the team and staff partnered with Food Lion to pack thousands of disaster food boxes at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina Friday. The Hornets are also working through Fanatics on a hurricane relief T-shirt to benefit the Foundation for the Carolinas relief fund. Additionally, team owner Michael Jordan, who grew up in Wilmington, this week announced that he’s making a $2 million donation to support relief and recovery efforts in the wake of Florence.

▪ Carolina Panthers: This week owner David Tepper detailed an initial storm relief package — he and the team will donate $1 million to the American Red Cross, $450,000 to regional food banks and additional aid to high school athletic programs impacted by storm damage. Panthers fans can also support Florence relief efforts by making cash donations at Bank of America Stadium collection points during Sunday’s home game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Assistance and emergency supplies are still needed in some of the hardest-hit coastal areas.

A number of Charlotte-area businesses are collecting donations. Charlotte Premium Outlets and Concord Mills, for instance, are accepting donations through Monday at their guest services desks of water, can goods, pet foods, blankets, clothing, diapers, towels, cleaning supplies, paper products and toiletries.

For individuals who’d like to donate, charities are seeking financial donations and volunteers to help with the aftermath of the storm. Some nonprofits include the Diaper Bank of North Carolina, Loaves & Fishes, Harvest Hope Food Bank and the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund. Others are listed on Charity Navigator. Groups vetted by the Better Business Bureau can be found at give.org.