Donate to Cover Shipping CostsHow to Participate
- View the List of Schools in need below. You’ll find each school’s details, including address, number of students, and the level of impact caused by the hurricanes.
- Select a School to support and complete the online form.
- Organize a Drive within your school community to collect new underwear and new socks. Encourage students, families, and staff to participate in this compassionate effort.
- Create Notes of Love & Support! In addition to the new underwear and socks, we encourage your students to include personal notes of encouragement — handwritten on paper hearts or recycled cloth — to uplift the spirits of the receiving students.
- Ship the Collected Items with Notes to the school you’re supporting. We are hoping to secure funds that will cover full or partial shipping costs, and we’ll confirm those details in the coming weeks based on the success of our fundraising efforts and the number of participating schools.
Buncombe County Schools in Asheville, NC & Surrounding Cities
- 45 schools & 6 school districts
- Grades: K-12
- Number of students: 22,000
- Cities: Asheville, Arden, Barnardsville, Black Mountain, Candler and Swannanoa.
Donations Shipping Address:
Attn. Christy Cheek
Buncombe County Schools Foundation
175 Bingham Rd Asheville, NC 28806
Severity of Impact:
Devastating Impact
Catastrophic damage to the community and schools; long-term closure, with significant needs for rebuilding and recovery.
We are partnering with the Buncombe County Schools Foundation to provide support for 22,000 students from 45 schools in one of the areas most impacted by Hurricane Helene.
To streamline the distribution process, we are organizing donations by grade level. You will be responsible for supporting a specific grade level and will collect new socks and/or new underwear in sizes appropriate for that grade.
Donation Packing Form
Undy 500: Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Undy 500?
The Undy 500 is a national drive to collect new underwear and socks for students impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Schools participating in The Great Kindness Challenge are encouraged to support a school in need, organize a collection drive, and ship the items to their supported school. - How do we sign up to participate?
Visit thegreatkindnesschallenge.com/hurricanerelief to view a list of schools in need. You can sign up to support a school and begin organizing your drive. - What should we collect?
We’re asking for donations of new underwear and socks for students of all ages. The goal is to collect 500 items, but any amount helps! - Can we collect other items besides underwear and socks?
The focus of this drive is on new underwear and socks, which are essential needs for students. Please limit your donations to these items to meet the current needs. - What are the suggested sizes by grade level?
Here are the recommended sizes for PreK-12 students:
- PreK–Kindergarten:
- Underwear: Size 4T–6
- Socks: Toddler or XS (shoe size 6-11)
- Grades 1–3:
- Underwear: Size 6–8
- Socks: Small (shoe size 9-2)
- Grades 4–6:
- Underwear: Size 8–10
- Socks: Medium (shoe size 2-5)
- Grades 7–9:
- Underwear: Size 10–12, Adult Small
- Socks: Large (shoe size 6-10)
- Grades 10–12:
- Underwear: Adult Small–Large
- Socks: Adult Large (shoe size 10-13)
- What if we can’t reach the goal of 500 items?
That’s okay! While 500 items is the goal, every donation counts. Any contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a difference. - How do we ship the collected items?
After signing up to support a school, you’ll receive a confirmation email, including the donations shipping address. We are working on raising funds to cover full or partial shipping costs, and we will provide updates on this soon. - Can we send messages of support with the donations?
Yes! We strongly encourage your students to write messages of love and encouragement on paper hearts or recycled cloth to include with each package of underwear and/or socks. These personal notes will help create a connection between students and uplift the spirits of those receiving them. Below are some examples of what these could look like.
- When do we need to complete our drive?
We recommend starting your drive as soon as possible! The sooner the items are collected and shipped, the faster they can reach the students in need. - How will we know if our school’s shipping costs are covered?
We are currently fundraising to help cover shipping costs. We will notify participating schools in the coming weeks about the availability of full or partial shipping assistance. - Can schools or other youth groups outside The Great Kindness Challenge participate?
Other schools and youth groups are welcome to participate as either a giving or a receiving school. - How do we become a receiving school? What if I know of a school in need?
If your school, or a school you know, has been impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton and is in need of support, you can share this link with them to sign up as a receiving school: https://www.tfaforms.com/5149290. Schools do not need to be part of The Great Kindness Challenge program to participate. This drive is open to any school in need, regardless of their involvement in GKC.
Thank you for your kindness and support! 💙