Hurricane Helene Immediate Impact

A Community Under Pressure:
The Critical Need for Safe Feeding Support in Disaster Areas

Brandi's Story: Overwhelmed by Need, Driven by Compassion

As Asheville deals with the fallout from natural disasters, the pressure on families to feed their infants safely is growing by the day. Brandi Harrison, a former Chair and current board member of the North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition (NCBC), finds herself at the epicenter of this crisis. Parents are turning to her, desperate for guidance and support in the face of dwindling resources and overwhelming challenges.

But Brandi’s struggle doesn’t end when she steps away from the disaster zone. When she leaves, she is inundated with hundreds of text messages, not just from people in need, but also from individuals and organizations eager to help. It’s a flood of communication that’s impossible to keep up with.

“Hundreds of messages,” Brandi recalls. “We are overwhelmed by the amount of outreach, education, and counseling needed. Large shelters and organizations are requesting bottles and formula, but we can’t accommodate them all. People are showing up at the birth center needing supplies, feeding support, and education.”

With only three active people on the ground, Brandi’s team is stretched thin. She highlights the urgent need for boots on the ground: more volunteers to help distribute supplies, provide education, and share critical information. “We need help. Right now, we just need people to show up and be here with us.”

Jayne's Role: A Call for Human Milk Donations

Jayne Corradi Lee, another NCBC board member, is facing the same challenges alongside Brandi. Jayne has been integral in organizing human milk donations and working with shelters to distribute milk to those in need. "We have people coming from Georgia with donor milk," Jayne says. "It needs to be labeled right, but that's it. The birth center can be a drop-off location."

Human milk donation is lifesaving for many infants during a disaster, especially when formula becomes difficult to access or prepare safely. Jayne’s team ensures every donation follows safety protocols, including filling out disclosure forms and labeling each bag with the donor’s name, date, and quantity.

However, space is running out. Jayne echoes Brandi’s concerns: “We’re about to reach the point where we have to pause milk donations because we’re running out of space. The same goes for physical supplies.” Despite the logistical challenges, Jayne remains committed to keeping the milk bank open and helping families as long as possible.

Briana’s Efforts: Mobilizing Help from Other States

Briana Smith, NCBC's Equity Coordinator, another essential player in this crisis, has been working tirelessly to facilitate the transport of donor milk from neighboring states like Georgia. These supplies are critical for families with no access to formula or breast milk substitutes.

Briana understands the need for immediate action but also stresses the importance of safety and accountability. “The milk needs to be labeled with donor info and quantity in the bag. Simple but essential details that can make a world of difference.” Briana’s goal is to ensure that the birth center continues to serve as a drop-off and distribution point for these vital supplies, while encouraging more people to step up and volunteer.

Love's Call: The Urgent Need for Volunteers

As North Carolina faces another wave of natural disasters, communities are being hit hard. Beyond the immediate needs for shelter and safety, families are grappling with how to feed their infants and young children safely amidst the chaos. The demand for feeding supplies, education, and support has skyrocketed.

Volunteers are needed urgently. Through the nonstop work of Love, current board Chair, and the NC Breastfeeding Coalition (NCBC) team, NCBfC has created a streamlined process for volunteers to register their interest and find ways to help on the ground. From offering lactation support to families and distributing human milk to ensuring the safety of formula donations, when needed, and training others in safe feeding practices there’s no shortage of work to be done.

Missy's Experience: Coalition Support

I'm reaching out to let you know how impressed I am with the Coalition and your support provided during Helene.

I'm an Asheville resident and volunteered at the Eddington Center on the Southside of Asheville. I ended up being in charge of diapers and formula. The volunteers with the Coalition provided vital support to me, to my fellow volunteers and mother and families. We had Coalition volunteers come to our Center from Wisconsin, Georgia, East Tennessee and Carrboro and beyond.

As a mom and early childhood advocate, I'm in awe of the volunteers who were/are mobilized to support our community from the Coalition. We couldn't have done it without their/your support, expertise and leadership.

How You Can Help

The need for volunteer support has never been greater. If you're local or can travel to assist, now is the time to act. Volunteers are responsible for figuring out their own accommodations, but the team can provide directions on where to show up and help.

To volunteer, please fill out the form here,, and NCBC will let the team know you're on your way. They will guide you on how you can make the most impact on the ground.