Help Maui Fire Victims: Here’s How You Can Donate

Cash Donations For Maui Fire Victims

Here are some organizations accepting donations for emergency efforts. Links attached to the organization names below will take you directly to donation checkout pages.

[…]

• Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong fund: Focusing on rapid response and working with local nonprofits to understand community needs. More details.
• Maui Food Bank: Collecting and distributing food to help the hungry in Maui County. More details.
• Maui United Way: Providing direct relief to families and nonprofits. More details.
• The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division: Providing food and resources for evacuees. More details.
• Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation: Partnering with the state Department of Education to support school communities in West Maui through Oct. 1. More details.
• Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement: Working to match every donation to Maui fire victims. More details.
• ‘Āina Momona: Establishing an emergency fund for Maui County first responders, including Firefighters, Lifeguards, and Emergency Medical Technicians. More details.
• Catholic Charities Hawaii: Actively working with other organizations to assess the critical needs of individuals affected by the wildfires.
• Maui Humane Society: Supporting shelters for displaced people and animals, and caring for injured animals. More details.
• Hawaii Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Business Relief Fund: Assisting the business communities on Maui.
• World Central Kitchen: Providing meals to people in need by partnering with local organizations. More details.
• Hawaii Lions Foundation: Matching up to $25,000 in donations for Maui disaster relief efforts. More details.
• Hawaiʻi People’s Fund: Providing immediate relief to those directly impacted by the wildfires on Maui Island. More details.

Donate Supplies To Maui Fire Victims

Maui Food Bank – Maui Food Bank is collecting and distributing food and other items to emergency victims, according to its website. The following donations are requested:

• Rice.
• Canned protein (pop-top cans).
• Canned meals (pop-top cans).
• Snacks.
• Protein and breakfast bars.
• Peanut butter.
• Jelly.
• Baby food.
• Diapers.
• Feminine hygiene products.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Toilet paper.
• Paper towels.
• Other toiletries.

Items can be delivered and obtained at the following locations (do not mail checks for the food bank here):

• Central Maui: King’s Cathedral (777 Maui Veterans Highway)
• South Maui: Calvary Chapel South Maui (320 Ohukai Rd., Ste. 420)

See Maui Food Bank distribution sites for pickup.

County Emergency Shelters

People and organizations wishing to contribute to Maui County relief efforts may express interest in an online form.

County emergency shelters have a need for the following items, which can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the old Kahului Safeway (170 E. Kamehameha Ave.):

• Non-perishable food.
• Water.
• Paper supplies.

Do not bring items to fire stations. They cannot accept items for shelters.

Donate Items Online

The Maui AIDS Foundation has also created a Maui fire relief checkout page where donors can opt to put their gift toward a specific physical need and an online Amazon wish list for people in shelters.

Donate Items On Oahu

The Hawaii Restaurant Association is looking for people on Oahu (and Maui) who may contribute to efforts to support fire victims as part of its Kokua for Lahaina initiative. The following help is needed:

• Food.
• Water.
• Medical supplies.
• Shelter.

Confirm your participation via this form from the association.

Volunteer To Help Maui Fire Victims

Here are some organizations looking for help serving victims and aiding in recovery efforts on Maui:

• Maui County: Help needed for food distribution sites, Kaunoa Senior Services and more.
• Maui Food Bank.
• American Red Cross: Help needed assessing damage and distributing supplies.
• Maui Humane Society: Seeking shelter personnel and fosters.
• The Salvation Army.
• Maui Rapid Response.
• More volunteer opportunities posted regularly at Maui Nui Strong.

The State of Hawaii is also seeking landowners, landlords and management companies interested in setting up arrangements with Maui fire victims. Program application forms are expected to be made available beginning 8 a.m. Monday on the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation website.

Avoid Scams

The state Attorney General’s office urged residents to use caution when choosing where to send their money and donations.

“I know that the people of Hawaii will come to the aid of our families, neighbors and communities,” says Attorney General Lopez. “We are already seeing various fundraising efforts being promoted on social media platforms and online. In moments of crisis, we all must be extra vigilant against bad actors who try to take advantage of people’s goodwill.”

Before making a donation, the AG advised in a news release Wednesday to keep following tips in mind:

• Donate to trusted, well-known charities. Beware of scammers who create fake charities during natural disasters. Always verify a charity’s legitimacy through its official website. If someone is fundraising on behalf of a charity you are familiar with, the best practice is to donate directly to that charity.
• Verify that the charity is legitimate. Any charity that solicits donation in Hawaii must be registered with the Department of the Attorney General, and its status can be verified here. There are also a number of independent online sources you can use to verify that a charity is legitimate, including the following:
• IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search: https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
• Charity Navigator: https://www.charitynavigator.org/
• DCCA Business Search: https://hbe.ehawaii.gov/documents/search.html
• Stay away from suspicious donation requests and be mindful of the following scammer’s tactics:
• Rushing you into making a donation. Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation. Take your time to do your research.
• Asking you to make a donation using cash or gift card. Most legitimate charities will accept credit card and check donations.
• Using names that sound a lot like the names of real charities. This is one reason it pays to do some research before giving.
• Scammers make lots of vague and sentimental claims but give no specifics about how your donation will be used.