The devastation that residents of the North Carolina mountains and surrounding areas have endured in the wake of Hurricane Helene is nothing short of unfathomable. In fact, you may have heard the term ‘1,000-year flood’ floating around — a title given to storms that are only expected to happen once over the span of a thousand years.

But as the shock and awe in response to this disaster starts to fade, it is vital that our efforts to support our neighbors in the western parts of the state do not.

Towns were leveled, hard-earned businesses were washed away, homes were destroyed and lives were lost. Yet as weeks pass by, we are back to worrying about an exam grade and how expensive yesterday’s grocery trip was.

This isn’t to place guilt on everyone carrying on with their lives. It’s what we have to do. What we should do, however, is take this as a sign to get some perspective. Most of us have the privilege to still be investing time in our education and access to food we need just down the road.

If there was ever a time to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes, it’s now.

For anyone who has already made their way west to the impacted areas, you may know that volunteering isn’t so easy when few people have had the time and resources to coordinate service opportunities. Many of these communities are still in survival mode, so the kinds of tasks an untrained crew can tackle haven’t been a top priority yet.

However, as time brings distance from the storm, it will also bring with it the chance for us to get organized in our relief efforts.

A few organizations, such as Samaritan’s Purse, have been accepting volunteers since the week following the flood. Other active volunteer opportunities can be found at 211 North Carolina and AVL Today, although there are plenty of small towns now accepting direct help.

Before you make the trip out there, I can’t overstate the need to be volunteering through an organization or at a pre-planned event. Wandering through these disaster zones in search of somewhere to help will often be unfruitful, and you will wind up in the way of those there to offer critical services.

Linemen are still working to restore power, the National Guard and active forces have mobilized and engineers are assessing vital infrastructure. Do your research before you make any plans because you don’t want to be an obstacle to any of those efforts.

Keep in mind, volunteering is by no means the only way to help. What may be the most important contribution most of us can make right now, and in the coming weeks, are donations. Yes, it’s hard to donate knowing that you won’t see what comes out of your good deed, but it is arguably the best way to support the communities reeling from the destruction.

Of course, being wary of where your donations and money are actually going is a real concern. One option is to look into legitimate Amazon wishlists which ensure that you are not only donating directly to those in need but that you are spending your money on exactly the kinds of supplies they can use. The YMCA of Avery County has an Amazon wishlist of immediate needs as temperatures begin to drop in the mountains.

As necessary and well-intended as the food donations are, no surplus of water and fruit snacks are going to help these communities rebuild.

The following are suggested donation recipients from an Asheville local, including the GoFundMe of two families whose lives were flipped upside down just weeks ago: BeLoved Asheville, Asheville Dream Center, Support the Craig Family and Help the Black Family Rebuild.

Your willingness to support in any capacity will be immensely appreciated by everyone who was impacted. Just keep in mind that how you choose to help can also make a world of difference.

If you don’t have personal ties to these mountains, being in school at NC State means you are surrounded by people who do. If you’re anything like me, your family and friends were affected in ways that you are still trying to grapple with.

A little bit of sensitivity, grace and support will go a long way to rally behind those directly and indirectly impacted by Helene. Let’s keep up the momentum, NC State.