Hurricane Helene brought devastating winds and life-threatening floods, leaving in its wake millions of people without power, housing and clean water for days, and in some cases, weeks. 

In the storm’s aftermath, support came pouring in from across the country as residents slowly began picking up the pieces. From providing meals and safe drinking water to donating to local non-profits leading recovery efforts, individuals and organizations large and small answered the call to assist their neighbors in need.

To aid communities affected by this devastating disaster, PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation have donated over $500,000 to support local and national relief efforts.  This included meal distribution efforts through PepsiCo Foundation's Food for Good Program and crucial resources for the Salvation Army and Team Rubicon. 

PepsiCo has also made sure its employees impacted by Hurricane Helene are taken care of through its PEPhelp program.  This PepsiCo Foundation program provides financial assistance to employees who have experienced a partial or total loss of their primary residence during a FEMA-declared Major Disaster/Emergency or another qualified incident.

In Georgia, Coca-Cola UNITED and PepsiCo teamed up to deliver essential bottled water to residents across the state as the hurricane left many communities without access to clean water. Volunteers on the ground were dispatched to the hardest-hit areas in Georgia, loaded up with vital supplies like back-up generators, fuel and food.  Coca-Cola UNITED's efforts have impacted 41 counties across Georgia, with a total of more than 23,000 cases of water donated and a contribution of $50,000 to the American Red Cross to support recovery efforts.

Pennsylvania-based ABARTA Coca-Cola sent truckloads of bottled water and hand sanitizer to its southern neighbors, helping address water shortages and prevent the spread of illness in places where sanitation services had been interrupted.

Additionally, Charlotte’s Coca-Cola Consolidated collaborated with Total360 and Samaritan’s Purse to deliver drinking water and essential supplies, particularly in Asheville and across the mountain regions which were hit especially hard.  

Niagara Bottling has donated over 1 million bottles of water to organizations working on the front lines to rebuild communities. Bottled water was distributed through partners who were able to reach the most affected communities, like Convoy of Hope, Feed the Children and Feeding America. The donation also included support for hurricane-impacted college campuses where many students faced food and water shortages.

Power outages also left many homes and businesses in the dark, threatening the safety and well-being of affected residents. Coke Florida worked alongside other organizations to set up generators for those who lost power, cleaning residents’ property and feeding thousands of people. 

As recovery efforts continue, America’s beverage companies are stepping up to ensure the needs of their neighbors in the communities they also call home are met. For more information on how to help those affected by Hurricane Helene, click HERE.