Taylor Swift has donated $5m to relief efforts connected to hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The charity Feeding America thanked Swift, saying it was “incredibly grateful … This contribution will help communities rebuild and recover, providing essential food, clean water, and supplies to people affected by these devastating storms.”
The donation came as Hurricane Milton made landfall with Florida, leaving2 million homes without power. The disaster is happening less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene swept through the northern part of the state towards Georgia and the Carolinas, causing huge flooding and other damage.
Swift is known for her philanthropy during natural disasters. In December 2023 she gave $1m to tornado relief efforts in her home state of Tennessee, after six people died and hundreds of buildings were damaged. She gave another $1m in 2020 for the same cause.
She has also frequently donated to food banks, including on stops on her record-breaking Eras tour. In June, Cardiff food bank received the largest ever donation from an individual, with chief executive Rachel Biggs saying: “The breathing space Taylor’s donation has given us will enable us to lift our heads and shift our focus from the food bank to the creation of a sustainable operation supporting people who currently need our help.”
Swift is hoping to perform in Florida next week. The final leg of the Eras tour is scheduled to begin at Miami Gardens on 18 October, before visiting New Orleans, Indianapolis and Toronto, and concluding in Vancouver on 8 December. The total revenue for the tour, which began in March 2023, is expected to reach $2bn.