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Support for Maui Wildfire Relief

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Support for Maui Wildfire Relief

The following is a list of funds established in support of those who've been impacted by this disaster.

On August 8, 2023, a fire swept through Lahaina in West Maui, Hawaii, causing massive destruction and devastation – forcing people to jump into the ocean for safety. The fires were fueled by Hurricane Dora which passed offshore but brought strong winds to Maui and Big Island all week.

Lahaina was a tourist town, home to 12,000 people and dozens of historic buildings dating back to the 1700s, many of them made from wood. The community has been nearly completely destroyed and looks like “a war zone,” according to a helicopter pilot who flew over the area.

As a result of this disaster, almost 100 people have lost their lives, with an unknown number still unaccounted for, and thousands of residents displaced – making this fire the deadliest in over a century.

For donors, fund holders, and community members who’d like to support the Maui community, Communities Foundation of Texas, in partnership with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, has gathered a list of organizations mobilizing relief efforts. The following is a list of funds established in support of those who’ve been impacted by this disaster:

  • Hawaii Community Foundation: The Maui Strong Fund was created to provide community resilience with resources for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The fund is currently being used to support communities affected by the wildfires on Maui.  The Hawaii Community Foundation is prioritizing nonprofit organizations that are supporting community-based rapid response and recovery efforts. Funding will support evolving needs, including shelter, food, financial assistance, and other services as identified by partners doing critical work on Maui.

 

  • Center for Disaster Philanthropy : CDP’s Hawaii Wildfires Recovery Fund has been created to support mid-to-long term recovery in Maui and other islands affected.  The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s focus with this fund is to provide grants to local organizations who are supporting marginalized populations and communities who face unique challenges in the aftermath of disasters that can prolong recovery.

 

  • Amalgamated Foundation: The Maui Community Power Recovery Fund was created to support immediate relief efforts to house, feed, and support displaced families and resource the long-term efforts to rebuild and advance structural change.

 

  • Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement: Kākoʻo Maui The Hawaiian Way Fund represents the support of community solutions that are tied to and celebrate the history, values, and knowledge of the indigenous peoples of Hawai’i in all areas of community-well-being, whether in the delivery of education, healthcare, affordable housing, language, or cultural and environmental practices

 

  • Maui United Way: Maui United Way is accepting donations for Maui Fire Disaster Relief. All donations will provide direct relief to families and nonprofits directly affected by the Maui fire disaster.

Nonprofit Agencies – The following are some of the nonprofit agencies that are on the ground, providing immediate assistance to those who have been displaced by the fires, and assisting with relief efforts:

  • Americares: Americares is assessing the needs of local health care facilities, coordinating emergency shipments of medicine and relief supplies and work with local and national organizations responding to the crisis. Additionally, Americares is readying hygiene kits, first aid supplies, and other critically needed items to send to partner organizations in Hawaii. The health-focused relief and development organization is also prepared to provide emergency funding to help restore health services for low-income and uninsured residents in affected communities.

 

  • American Red Cross: Currently providing evacuees with a safe place to stay, the Red Cross and partners are providing food to eat and emotional support during this challenging time and preparing to expand relief efforts if needed. When it is safe to do so, Red Cross teams will help with damage assessment and begin distributing relief supplies. In partnership with county government, trained Red Cross disaster workers have shelters open on Maui and Oahu. Since the fires began, the Red Cross and partners have provided more than 2,100 overnight shelter stays.

 

  • Catholic Charities USA: Catholic Charities agencies are on the ground providing assistance that includes food, water, shelter, and financial support to victims of these fires.

 

  • Convoy of Hope: Convoy of Hope has partners on the ground meeting needs and assessing damages, with more team members on route to assist. Convoy of Hope operates several programs – Children’s Feeding, Community Outreach, Disaster Response, Agriculture, Rural Compassion, and Women’s Empowerment.

 

  • Direct Relief: Direct Relief is deploying emergency supplies requested by health facilities in Hawaii, including a specialized wildfire kit containing essential medications, N95 masks, field medic packs, and personal care products for those who have been displaced. The organization has committed its medical inventory of $360 million.

 

  • Good360: Good360 takes a holistic approach to disaster recovery, starting with the impacted communities’ immediate needs (even during the evacuation stage) and committing to being there for the long-term, always focused on delivering the correct goods to the right people at the right time (this is an excellent resource for corporate in-kind donations).

 

  • Hawaii Salvation Army: Hawaii Salvation Army will start providing meals for thousands displaced in Maui emergency shelters.

 

  • Maui Food Bank: Maui Food Bank is actively collecting and distributing food across the island.

 

  • Maui Humane Society: Maui Human Society is helping lost, injured, and displaced animals. The organization is giving pet supplies and emergency kits to local shelters so pets and owners can stay together.

 

  • World Central Kitchen (WCK): WCK’s Emergency Response Team is on the way to assess food and water needs for first responders, evacuated residents, and any tourists in need. This emergency response in Hawaii is in an early stage of assessment.
Nicole Paquette
Author:
Nicole Paquette
Senior Director, Communications, Public Relations, and External Affairs

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