How to help people and pets devastated by the Maui wildfires
Maui wildfires have turned Hawaii into “hell.”
The ongoing natural disaster is already being called one of the deadliest in the state’s history.
The tragic toll from the devastating blazes has risen to 55 dead and is expected to climb.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green reported that hundreds of families have been displaced — and thousands of buildings have been destroyed.
“It’s going to be a long haul,” Green said.
Officials expect the death toll to rival the 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people on the Big Island.
Both people and pets have been dramatically affected by the Maui fires, with many in need of urgent assistance and support.
Here’s how you can help:
How to help pets affected by the Maui wildfires
The Hawaiian Humane Society and the Maui Humane Society are requesting assistance in getting supplies and funding for the displaced animals.
“With our population over capacity before this tragedy, we are running extremely low on space, supplies and foster,” the Maui Humane Society posted on Facebook Wednesday. “As we are experiencing tragedy or know someone who is, we will need to band together as a community for both our humans and animals.”
The Hawaiian Humane Society posted their own update on their Facebook page, urging people to support the Maui organization.
“Update from our friends at Maui Humane Society: currently, all animals at their shelter are safe, but stressed,” the post started. “Their shelter — and those across the state — have been over-capacity since before this disaster, and a surge of lost, scared and injured pets is expected to come into their already overcrowded and strained shelter.”
Fostering animals
The shelter wrote that they need locals to temporarily foster dogs through SOS fostering.
“We are expecting an inundation of hundreds of animals who have been burned, lost during the evacuation process and those in need of critical care due to smoke inhalation. We need the kennel space to be able to house these animals in hopes of reuniting them with their Ohana’s [families] once this is all over.”
The Hawaiian Humane Society added, “Not only do the animals get to calm down in a quieter, home environment, but less animals in the shelter means Maui Humane has more room for incoming lost and injured pets.”
Donate
The Hawaiian Humane Society emphasized in all caps that the “NUMBER ONE THING NON-MAUI RESIDENTS CAN DO TO HELP MAUI HUMANE SOCIETY IS TO DONATE.”
The Maui organization also encouraged people to donate funds and supplies such as pet food, pop-up kennels and litter to sustain the animals as well as provide supplies for families who had to evacuate and leave all they had behind. Locals can drop donations directly at the Maui Humane Society in Puunene.
As for those on the mainland who wish to help in this way, the organization provided an Amazon Wishlist that will allow supplies to be directly shipped to them, adding that monetary donations are also “crucial to cover the costs of the lifesaving medical treatments necessary to save animal lives affected by the fires.”
Communication
The Maui Humane Society added that they need assistance communicating within the Maui community to help ensure that animals are staying safe and with their owners.
They created the the Maui Fires Pets Help Group on Facebook so people in the community can connect with others in need. So far, there have been posts about missing pets, resources for shelters and pet owners who need help.
The @mauihumanesociety Instagram account is also updating its page throughout the day to provide any additional information.
How to help people affected by the Maui wildfires
Residents of Maui have been forced from their homes, often having to evacuate while leaving all their belongings behind.
If you would like to help the victims of the wildfires, here are some places you can donate:
American Red Cross
Disaster workers from the American Red Cross are on the ground in Maui “working around the clock to help those affected.”
The organization is “providing evacuees with a safe place to stay, food to eat and emotional support,” and has opened shelters in Oahu to help displaced residents and tourists.
To donate, vidsit RedCross.org, call 1-800-733-2767 or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
The Hawai’i Community Foundation
The Hawai’i Community Foundation‘s Maui Strong Fund is accepting donations on the website.
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.”
Donations will help to provide resources to ensure a rapid response to and recovery from the wildfires. Funding supports necessary assistance including shelter, food, financial assistance and other services.
Maui United Way
Maui United Way has set up a Maui Fire and Disaster Relief Donation Page for online donations.
The organization helps to address the health and human service challenges in Maui through education, income and more.
Maui Food Bank
The Maui Food Bank “provides safe and nutritious food to anyone in Maui County who is at risk of going hungry.” The organization also donates food to disaster relief efforts.
To donate, visit their website, MauiFoodBank.org.
GoFundMe
GoFundMe has set up a verified Maui Wildfires Relief Fundraisers page that has put all fund-raisers dedicated to the Hawaii wildfires into one place.
Every fund-raiser on the page has been verified, the company said on its website.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is on the ground in Maui, overseeing the emergency feeding operation, and has launched efforts to provide food and other essential items and services.
The organization is accepting donations on their website, and 100% of the donations will go toward those impacted by the wildfires.
“The Salvation Army is committed to assisting those in need during this critical time,” Commissioner Kenneth G. Hodder, national commander of The Salvation Army, said in a release.
“Our local officers, staff, and volunteers are extending relief and support to people in affected areas, ensuring that no one faces this disaster alone. We will continue to do everything to support these communities now and well after the flames have been extinguished.”
