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Clemson University Supporting Those in Need

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Where to Find Resources and How People Can Help
Updated October 4, 2024, with Federal and Statewide Help

Following the destruction and devastation of Hurricane Helene, and as we recover in the aftermath, Clemson University continues to assist our students, employees and the surrounding community. 

Communities across our area and throughout the Upstate, as well as in Western North Carolina, continue to face horrendous and heartbreaking conditions. Many are facing personal loss, property damage, emotional and financial strain.  

Below are several resources available to students, faculty, staff and community members.

Student Resources

Student Emergency Fund 
The Student Emergency Fund was created to help students with financial assistance in a time of need. This fund is intended to be a supplemental financial resource when students are unable to meet immediate and essential expenses due to unexpected, unforeseen, and unavoidable circumstances.  
 
CARE Network 
The CARE Network offers individualized assistance to Clemson students by assessing needs, identifying support networks and resources, and offering referrals to campus and community partners. Outreach is conducted once a CARE referral is filed. 

Employee Resources

FEMA Disaster Assistance
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster assistance is now available to help residents of Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Lexington, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, and Spartanburg counties recover from Hurricane Helene. Assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured losses, up to $750 for lost groceries due to power outages and temporary housing assistance if displaced. Learn more via DisasterAssistance.gov, (800) 621-3362 or the FEMA app.

Employee Emergency Fund 
The Employee Emergency Fund can assist employees who are experiencing times of financial hardship due to unexpected, unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances – like the costs of repairing storm damage or other emergency hurricane-related expenses.  

Any Clemson University employee, staff or faculty, is eligible to apply for a grant (up to $500 within a 365-day period) from this fund that has been established through the Clemson University Foundation. Applications are reviewed by a committee for approval and administered based on available funds. 

Apply through the Employee Emergency Fund website. Employees should provide as much detail as possible when completing the application. Documentation of the hardship is required and will be requested via email after submission of the application. 

Employee Assistance Program
ComPsych, Clemson’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides comprehensive support and resources for employees and their family members. The EAP provides confidential emotional support for individuals, either virtually or over the phone. 

Along with a repository of helpful resources for recovering from natural disasters, these specific resources are available:

Federal and Statewide Help

FEMA disaster assistance is now open!
Funding is available to help residents of Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Lexington, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, and Spartanburg counties recover from Hurricane Helene.

Available funding includes:

  • Grants for temporary housing and home repairs.
  • Low-cost loans to cover uninsured losses.
  • Up to $750 for lost groceries due to power outages.
  • Temporary housing assistance if displaced.

Apply now! Don’t wait:

Medical Needs Shelter Information
Call the Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432

Statewide General Information Line
1-866-246-0133

Pickens County 

Portable oxygen concentrators can be obtained at:

  • Pickens County EMS
    1507 Walhalla Hwy, Pickens, SC
    864-774-9743
    10-5 daily except Sunday

Report Property Damage (Pickens County)

Clemson 

Clemson Community Care
105 Anderson Highway, Clemson – Monday 8:30-1:30 

Central Clemson Recreation Center
130 Commons Way, Central
CCRC members or residents of the Town of Central or City of Clemson are invited to stop in for a hot shower or to charge phones. If you are not a CCRC member, please bring an I.D. showing residency. Bring your own charger and toiletries. This service will continue until power is fully restored to Clemson & Central. 

City of Clemson – Clean up help (does not include the use of chainsaws or debris off homes)
Email: lnewton@cityofclemson.org

Greenville County 

For the latest information, visit the Greenville County Emergency Management website.

Greenville Rescue Mission (men only)
575 W Washington Street, Greenville 

Shepherd’s Gate (women and mothers with children)
11 Regency Hill Drive, Greenville 

Anderson County

For the latest updates on shelters and other Hurricane Helene assistance, visit the Anderson Sheriff Department’s Helene resources website.

Oconee County

To submit information about property damage, visit the Oconee County website.

Golden Corner Food Pantry
635 Business Park Dr., Seneca, SC 29678
864-882-3610

Internet Resources

Pickens County Library Hours: Mon-Thurs: 9 am-9 pm, Fri-Sat: 9 am-6 pm, Sun: 2 pm-6 pm

  • Central-Clemson Library
    105 Commons Way, Central, SC 29630
  • Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library
    304 Biltmore Road, Easley, SC 29640

Anderson County Library Hours: Monday- Sunday: 10-6 pm

  • Anderson Main
  • Belton Branch
  • Iva Branch
  • Jennie Erwin Branch
  • Lander Memorial Branch
  • Pendleton Branch
  • Piedmont Branch
  • Powdersville Branch
  • Westside Branch CLOSED

Oconee County Library

  • Seneca Branch: Mon-Fri: 9-6 pm, Sat: 9-1 am
  • Walhalla Branch: Mon-Fri: 9-6 pm, Sat: 9-1 am
  • Salem Branch: Mon: 10-6 pm, Tue-Fri: 9-5 pm (12-1 pm Closed)
  • Westminster Branch: Mon-Fri: 10-6 pm

Walmart Neighborhood Market #2328
2014 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC 29615

WiFi hotspot and charging stations: Information Technology Disaster Resource Center Mobile Units

Laundry Services

Walmart Supercenter #640
1451 Woodruff Rd, Greenville, SC 29607

  • Portable restrooms
  • Laundry
  • Showers

Clean Start Anderson SC
219 Townsend Street, Anderson, SC 29625; (864) 716-0766
Monday: 7:30-11:00 AM
Wednesday: 7:30-11:00 AM
Friday: 7:30-11:00 AM

Tiger Wash Laundromat locations — open 24 hours

  • 1936 West Main Street, Central, SC 29630
  • 313 Old Greenville Hwy, Clemson, SC 29631
  • #20 Anderson Drive Liberty, SC 29657
  • 655 South Mechanic Street, Pendleton, SC 29670
  • 491 East Main Street, Seneca, SC 29678
  • 701 West Main Street, Walhalla, SC 29691

Other Laundry Services

Tan Coin Laundry
1061 Fernwood Glendale Rd, Spartanburg
8 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Sudz Coin Laundry
1203 Springfield Rd, Boiling Springs
Open 24 hours

Robin’s Laundry
902 South B Street, Easley
Open 7:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. daily

Oasis Laundromat
123 Whitehall Rd, Anderson
Open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, 6 a.m. -9 p.m. Friday-Sunday

How Individuals Can Help

Donate to the Student Emergency Fund 
The Student Emergency Fund is a university-wide initiative coordinated by the Office of the Dean of Students in close consultation with the Office of Student Financial Aid. The Student Emergency Fund was created to help students with financial assistance in a time of need. 
 
Donate to the Employee Emergency Fund 
The Employee Emergency Fund is supported by donations from the Clemson community. Make your gift through Clemson Giving. Gifts can be made on a one-time or recurring basis. 
 
Donate to Clemson University’s Employee Food Bank – The Nook 
Designed to help faculty and staff experiencing food insecurity or financial hardships upon opening in November 2024, The Nook, located just off Klugh Avenue on campus, will serve as a place where Clemson employees can feel comfortable getting assistance in a respectful, compassionate and confidential manner. Interested faculty and staff can also make monetary donations via Clemson Forever.
 
Statewide Assistance 
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division has developed a “Ways to Help Your Community” website help list organizations supporting recovery efforts. If individuals are able volunteer in person, visit  SCEMD’s Donations and Volunteers page to find the VolunteerSC information and link.