Liberty University ramps up aid for Hurricane Helene victims

A few weeks after Liberty University teams arrived in flood-ravaged areas to aid victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia through its LU Serve Now initiative, the university has announced that it plans to help even more residents recover from the tragedy.

On Monday, a team of 10 students and two leaders will head to Asheville, N.C., for a week to partner with Operation Blessing for food distribution, mud outs, and debris removal in residential homes. Operation Blessing is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization in Virginia Beach dedicated to partnering with Christians to demonstrate God’s love by alleviating human suffering in the U.S. and around the world.

This trip marks Liberty’s fifth since Hurricane Helene rocked the Southeast in September and third trip specifically to North Carolina. In partnership with Samaritan’s Purse, the university originally sent teams to Boone, N.C. (Oct. 13-19); Valdosta, Ga., (Oct. 20-26); and Perry, Fla., (Oct. 20-26). Prior to going to Valdosta, Liberty sent a trailer with 22 pallets of bottled water for those in the community.

As Liberty assessed the widespread need and as more willing students signed up to serve, LU Serve Now leaders scheduled an additional day trip to Boone on Oct. 24, with 39 students and eight leaders, and also planned the trip to Asheville next week.

“We are excited to grow our relationship with Operation Blessing,” LU Serve Senior Director Chad Nelson said. “There is still so much to be done in response to Hurricane Helene. As organizations begin to formulate plans for the rebuild phase of the response, cleanup initiatives continue. We want to support these ongoing efforts and express the love of Jesus to those who are still in such desperate need. We will eventually send teams to help once the rebuild phase begins, but until that time, we will continue to support the cleanup that’s needed and offer spiritual and emotional support to those who’ve been affected.”

The university also set up a dedicated giving portal for Hurricane Helene and committed to matching up to $1 million raised for hurricane disaster relief efforts. Liberty President Dr. Dondi E. Costin announced the fund and spoke about Liberty’s relief efforts in an interview with ABC News. All funds raised will go entirely toward relief efforts, whether for much-needed supplies or mobilizing disaster response teams.

Liberty has a longstanding reputation for community service, consistently partnering with humanitarian aid organizations during times of need. Past projects include assisting Ukrainian refugees in Romania, helping those affected by flooding in Kentucky, and cleaning up debris left behind by the devastating Hurricane Idalia that struck North Florida last year.

The LU Serve Now initiative provides multiple opportunities for students to respond to natural disasters alongside partner organizations that embrace and support Liberty’s mission and purpose. Students interested in participating are encouraged to apply online.