Keller Families Send Relief to Maui Fire Victims
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by
Leslie Horn
On Aug. 8, wildfires swept through parts of Maui, consuming entire communities to become Hawaii’s worst natural disaster. The historic town of Lahaina was decimated, with hundreds dead or still missing and thousands of structures destroyed.
Keller– Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Keller, Texas, rallied to gather donations of necessities to aid Maui wildfire victims in the early days of the August disaster.
Cindy DeFranco, a frequent visitor to Maui for business, was on the island near the airport when the devastating wildfire broke out. In no danger herself, her heart went out to her friends and associates in Lahaina. Returning home to Texas, she reached out to her congregation, and the donations started flowing in.
“[In the first days after the fire], there was no one here but locals. The Red Cross took a few days to get here, so everyone was looking out for each other. Lots of people were staying in churches and other shelters, and the needs were immediate,” said Lory Aiwohi, president of the Relief Society, one of the oldest and largest charitable women’s organizations on the island helping to provide necessities for dozens of people displaced by the fires and sheltering in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“People have lost everything,” said Aiwohi when asked by DeFranco how she could help. “Many people from other, unaffected parts of the island went to Costco and Foodland to purchase what they could to drop off for victims. Every type of item was needed and used, so I knew there were opportunities to bring more,”
Donations started rolling in with a simple post by DeFranco to her congregation’s Facebook group that friends could drop off donations at her home. By the next day, she had a large suitcase full of items ready to go, but it didn’t stop there. Mandy Ricketts, the president of the Relief Society of Cindy’s Keller congregation, was excited to get involved.
“It was brought to my attention that there was a need, and we had a connection on Maui, so the families in our neighborhood collected some items,” said Ricketts. “We were able to deliver them to one of the shelters on the island, thanks to Cindy. We all did something simple and small and hoped it would make an impact.”
When Cindy returned to Maui the next week, she hand-delivered the donations to Aiwohi at the church building.
“[In the first days after the fire], there was no one here but locals. The Red Cross took a few days to get here, so everyone was looking out for each other. Lots of people were staying in churches and other shelters, and the needs were immediate,” said Lory Aiwohi, president of the Relief Society, one of the oldest and largest charitable women’s organizations on the island helping to provide necessities for dozens of people displaced by the fires and sheltering in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“People have lost everything,” said Aiwohi when asked by DeFranco how she could help. “Many people from other, unaffected parts of the island went to Costco and Foodland to purchase what they could to drop off for victims. Every type of item was needed and used, so I knew there were opportunities to bring more,”
Donations started rolling in with a simple post by DeFranco to her congregation’s Facebook group that friends could drop off donations at her home. By the next day, she had a large suitcase full of items ready to go, but it didn’t stop there. Mandy Ricketts, the president of the Relief Society of Cindy’s Keller congregation, was excited to get involved.
“It was brought to my attention that there was a need, and we had a connection on Maui, so the families in our neighborhood collected some items,” said Ricketts. “We were able to deliver them to one of the shelters on the island, thanks to Cindy. We all did something simple and small and hoped it would make an impact.”
When Cindy returned to Maui the next week, she hand-delivered the donations to Aiwohi at the church building.
DeFranco and her associates also brought some donations for Maui’s animal victims. They collected leashes and collars and realized the organization also needs towels and dog toys. You can donate directly to the Hawaii Animal Rescue Foundation here.
“The needs in Maui will continue for some time,” DeFranco says. “The tourists are starting to come back, and though the shelters are now empty because people are now being housed in hotels and rental homes, at some point, they will need to move on. I hope the world’s support will continue so that the people can rebuild their lives in this beautiful place.”
If you’d like to help with recovery efforts, there are several ways you can pitch in.
We’ve listed a few ways to donate below:
Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation
There is also a list of individuals who have been impacted by the fires and are seeking financial support while they rebuild. Lahaina Families Impacted
