The horrific and tragic disaster in the town of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui has gripped the world this past week. The scope of this tragedy is unimaginable — photos of the scene look like something from after the atomic bombs were dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
But as we all know, it won’t be long before this story slips off the national radar screen. However, the rebuilding of this historic community and the lives of its residents, both physically and emotionally, will take years.
There are many ways to help the victims of this disaster and we have listed some of those below that are among the most prominent:
— The Maui Strong Fund, run by the Hawai’i Community Foundation, is accepting donations for necessities like food, clothing, and shelter for families who have lost their homes.
— The American Red Cross of Hawaii has 220 trained responders on the ground in Maui helping with search and rescue operations. Donations to the Red Cross are also providing shelter, food, and emotional support. You can donate to the Red Cross by calling 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669).
— Aloha United Way, a non-profit organization based in Honolulu, has set up a dedicated fund for victims of the Maui wildfire.
— The Maui Food Bank is accepting donations that will pay for meals provided to displaced residents in Maui.
— The Maui Humane Society is seeking contributions to fund care for pets displaced by the wildfire.
We urge all of our readers who are able to do so to make some small contribution to help the victims of this horrific natural disaster.
