Taylor Swift donates $5 million to Hurricane Helene, Milton relief efforts

Taylor Swift donated millions of dollars to help relief efforts going toward people who were impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. 

Feeding America, a nationwide network of food bank organization, shared on its Instagram account that the singer donated $5 million to "help communities rebuild and recover" from the devastating storms. 

"We’re incredibly grateful to Taylor Swift for her generous $5 million donation to Hurricanes Helene and Milton relief efforts. This contribution will help communities rebuild and recover, providing essential food, clean water, and supplies to people affected by these devastating storms. Together, we can make a real impact in supporting families as they navigate the challenges ahead. Thank you, Taylor, for standing with us in the movement to end hunger and for helping communities in need," the post read. 

Feeding America is continuing to take donations that will go toward hurricane relief efforts. 

For anyone wishing to give, they can visit Feeding America’s website. 

Swift’s past donations

This isn’t the first time Swift has shown her generous side towards those in need. 

In 2023, Swift donated $1 million to the Tennessee Emergency Response Fund following deadly tornadoes that swept over several counties in the state. 

During her North American leg of her Eras Tour, Swift made several donations to food banks across the United States. 

She’s also known to be generous with the people who work for her, not just charities. 

Swift gifted approximately $55 million to her Eras Tour crew, including the technicians, riggers, caterers and dancers. 

Hurricane Milton status

Just over two weeks since Hurricane Helene ravaged parts of the southeast and lead to the deaths of 230 people, Milton began its descent on Florida once more as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday. 

The National Hurricane Center stressed that it was not certain where Milton’s center would come ashore Wednesday night because the storm's path might "wobble," but the entire Tampa Bay region and points south were at grave risk. Tropical storm-force winds began lashing the coast Wednesday afternoon. 

At a news conference in Tallahassee, Gov. Ron DeSantis described deployment of a wide range of resources, including 9,000 National Guard members from Florida and other states; over 50,000 utility workers from as far as California; and highway patrol cars with sirens to escort gasoline tankers to replenish supplies so people could fill up their tanks before evacuating. 

"Unfortunately, there will be fatalities. I don’t think there’s any way around that," DeSantis said. 

Milton was centered about 60 miles (100 kilometers) west-southwest of Sarasota early Wednesday evening and had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph), the hurricane center reported. It was moving northeast at 17 mph (29 kph). 

Heavy rain and tornadoes lashed parts of southern Florida starting Wednesday morning, with conditions deteriorating throughout the day. Six to 12 inches (15 to 31 centimeters) of rain, with up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) in some places, was expected well inland, bringing the risk of catastrophic flooding. 

One twister touched down Wednesday morning in the lightly populated Everglades and crossed Interstate 75. Another apparent tornado touched down in Fort Myers, snapping tree limbs and tearing a gas station's canopy to shreds. 

Authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders across 15 Florida counties with a total population of about 7.2 million people. Officials warned that anyone staying behind must fend for themselves, because first responders were not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm.