Rotary District 6760 Awards $50,000 Disaster Relief Grant to One Generation Away for East Tennessee Hurricane Helene Flood Victims
In the wake of devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, Rotary District 6760 has stepped up to provide critical support to communities in East Tennessee. The District Governor, Darrell Ailshie, coordinated the district’s response via collaboration on a designated account with the Franklin Noon Rotary Charitable Foundation. The Franklin Noon Rotary Foundation Board also voted to donate $30,000 to the account as an opening contribution.Within just a few weeks of the hurricane, the district has already collected and allocated $50,000 to One Generation Away, a Franklin-based nonprofit, who is currently deployed in East TN providing essential supplies and relief to those affected, especially in the smaller and more rural communities. The large donation amount also allows One Generation Away to take full advantage of a matching donation of up to $40,000 that had previously been pledged anonymously.
Other Rotary Clubs and members throughout District 6760 and beyond are still pledging donations, which will allow for additional distributions to qualified 501c3 disaster response organizations in upcoming months.
One Generation Away, known for its longstanding commitment to eliminating food insecurity, will use the funds to transport food, equipment, medical supplies, and other disaster relief resources to residents who have been displaced or are struggling in the aftermath of the flooding. The partnership between Rotary District 6760 and One Generation Away represents a joint commitment to community service, particularly in times of crisis.
“We’re grateful for Rotary District 6760’s generous support, which will allow us to respond to this disaster immediately and for the long term,” said Chris Whitney, founder of One Generation Away. “These funds will enable us to provide vital relief to families in East Tennessee as they begin the long process of recovery.”
The flooding from Hurricane Helene has left many homes, businesses, and infrastructures damaged, with hundreds of residents facing an uphill battle to rebuild their lives. With the assistance of Rotary District 6760’s disaster grant and the matching funds, One Generation Away will be able to expand its reach in delivering much-needed aid, focusing on food distribution and medical supplies to meet immediate needs as well as in ongoing mobile pantry distributions for the next year or more.
“This disaster has had a profound impact on our neighbors in East Tennessee, and as Rotarians, we are committed to stepping up in times of need,” said Darrell Ailshie, District Governor. “Our partnership with One Generation Away will allow us to get vital resources into the hands of those who need them the most, and we’re proud to support their incredible work.”
Rotary District 6760 has a history of aiding disaster recovery efforts, using its global network and local connections to provide relief when crises strike, most notably in the recent flooding in Waverly, TN. The district, which encompasses clubs throughout a large portion of Middle and West Tennessee, continues to make disaster relief a priority in its mission of service above self.
To be part of Rotary District 6760’s disaster relief efforts, donations can be made using this link.
To support One Generation Away’s ongoing relief work, donations can be made through their website as well.
About Rotary District 6760: Rotary District 6760 encompasses Middle and most of West Tennessee and includes a diverse group of community and business leaders committed to service, fellowship, and community impact. Through various initiatives, the district works to support local and international projects, from disaster relief to education and healthcare.
About One Generation Away: One Generation Away is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has pursued its vision of wiping hunger off the face of America, growing its service capacity from 150,700 meals shared in its first full year, 2014, to just over 7.7 million meals in 2023. Founded by Chris and Elaine Whitney, OneGenAway rescues high-quality, surplus food from grocery stores, restaurants, farms, and caterers and redistributes that food to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.
