Six Delta Dental affiliates aid Hurricane Helene relief efforts
This article was originally published on Dr. Bicuspid.com.
Following the destruction of Hurricane Helene, Delta Dental affiliates from six states have provided financial support and healthcare supplies to survivors.
Delta Dental companies in North Carolina, Michigan, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, and New Mexico collectively are donating toothbrushes, oral hygiene kits, and $145,000 to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, the East Tennessee Foundation, and the American Red Cross to support affected individuals and communities as they work to rebuild, according to a press release from Delta Dental of Tennessee.
Hurricane Helene Victims in Critical Need of Access to Healthcare and Hygiene
Six Delta Dental affiliates unite to donate oral health supplies and money to relief efforts.
NORTH CAROLINA & TENNESSEE – (October 16, 2024) – In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Delta Dental affiliates from six states have come together to provide financial support and critical healthcare supplies to survivors. Delta Dental companies in North Carolina, Michigan, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, and New Mexico are collectively donating thousands of toothbrushes, oral hygiene kits, and $145,000 to nonprofit organizations supporting impacted residents and communities as they rebuild and recover.
The affiliates made financial contributions to three organizations helping to direct on-the-ground relief efforts in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Those organizations are:
- The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, managed by United Way of North Carolina, awards grants to nonprofits working to meet the immediate needs of impacted communities by providing food, water, cleaning supplies, and other basic necessities.
- The East Tennessee Foundation, which has activated its Neighbor To Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund and works with local nonprofits and community leaders to direct donations where they are most needed.
- The American Red Cross has deployed more than 2,100 disaster responders to provide critical care, with more on the way. Delta Dental of California’s Community Care Foundation is matching donations (up to $200,000) made to the Red Cross from Delta Dental employees and others via its dedicated giving page to help amplify these lifesaving efforts.
Western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee were among the hardest-hit areas by Helene, and the Delta Dental affiliates in those states have also donated nearly 30,000 toothbrushes and oral hygiene kits to help get critical oral health supplies into local communities without access to basic needs and resources in the aftermath of the storm. Donated toothbrushes and hygiene kits are being distributed through hospitals, safety net clinics, relief centers, and other partners throughout the region.
“The scale and scope of devastation in western North Carolina are unimaginable, and we have reached out to our employees, partners, and the more than 500 providers in the affected area,” said Curt Ladig, President & CEO, Delta Dental of North Carolina. “There is a long road ahead for western North Carolina, and we are ready to do our part to help ensure our neighbors have the support and supplies they need.”
The Delta Dental teams in North Carolina and Tennessee have streamlined their operations in response to the disaster to help impacted customers and providers. Both affiliates have reached out to impacted providers, and claims are being processed electronically and by mail as quickly as possible. In North Carolina, customer support teams are helping callers in impacted areas find needed care.
“As Tennesseans, we recognize it is our responsibility to help when our friends and neighbors are hurting, and so many are in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” said Jeff Ballard, President & CEO of Delta Dental of Tennessee. “And as a company, we are fortunate to be able to do our part to contribute financially and also help to meet a critical need through hygiene kits and toothbrushes. As these communities navigate the days, weeks, and months ahead, I hope we will all continue to assess what we can do as individuals and businesses to help.”
To learn more about the on-the-ground response and contribute to Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts, visit the websites of The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, The East Tennessee Foundation, and The American Red Cross.