With Las Vegas (a) having strong “ninth island” ties to Hawaii, and (b) being no stranger to tragedy, many of us might want to help out in the aftermath of last week’s Lāhainā wildfires in Maui — already the most deadly in the country’s history.
This list of credible resources was compiled by City Cast editor Adrian Gonzales:
Where to Donate
Maui Strong Fund: The fund is operated by The Hawai‘i Community Foundation and distributed to local nonprofits on the ground.
Maui Food Bank: The hunger relief organization says every dollar donated can provide four meals on the island.
Kāko’o Maui: The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement has pledged to match donations up to $1.5 million.
Maui Humane Society: Donations help support animal medical costs.
Red Cross: The organization has set up emergency shelters for Hawaiians who need food and other services. You can also text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make an immediate $10 donation.
- Also: In addition to these resources, you can attend charity events Sunday at Downtown Container Park, and Friday, Aug. 25 at Taverna Costera.
Beware of Scams
They’re a grim reality during natural disasters and a place where they’re most common is the crowdfunding website GoFundMe. The site itself has helpful information on how they verify the legitimacy of fundraisers. The Federal Trade Commission also has resources for how to spot fraudulent fundraisers.
Visit the verified Maui GoFundMe directory to donate.
