Dear Waikiki School Ohana:
The wildfire tragedy on the island of Maui have pulled at our collective heartstrings. Despite being on separate islands, we are one collective State, and the outpouring of support has been tremendous. Families impacted by the wildfires are now in need of our help.
Monetary donations are encouraged over non-financial donations from outside of Maui because funds can be used immediately to purchase what is needed and do not require additional labor for sorting, shipping, transporting, warehousing and distributing donated goods.
During our Scholastic Book Fair Hours (7:15 am - 5:30 pm), Waikiki School will set up a monetary donation box with funds going to the American Red Cross Hawaii Wildfire Response. If you would like to donate directly to support relief efforts, I've linked some of the prominent organizations below.
Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the people of Maui. Together, we can do out part to help them recover.
With Love,
Ryan Kusuda
Principal
American Red Cross Hawaii Wildfire Response
https://www.redcross.org/local/hawaii/get-help/hawaii-wildfires-response-.html
(Update from August 10) In the last 24 hours, the Red Cross received nearly 1,500 calls for assistance and support from individuals impacted by Hawaii Wildfires. Working with local officials and partners, our teams are providing evacuees with a safe place to stay, food to eat and emotional support during this challenging time and preparing to expand relief efforts as needed.
- When it is safe to do so, and the hardest-hit areas are accessible, Red Cross teams will help with damage assessment and distributing relief supplies. Over 150 trained Red Cross responders are en-route to support relief operations in Hawaii.
- Thousands of tourists are being evacuated to Oahu and the Red Cross has also opened a shelter there to assist displaced Maui residents and vacationers.
- More help is on the way as trained disaster teams deploy from the other Hawaiian Islands and from states across the country.
- This is still a dangerous, emergency situation, as fires are still being contained posing a lingering risk for many communities. More information will be available as we learn more.
Maui Strong Fund Sponsored by the Hawaii Community Foundation
https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong
The Maui Strong Fund is providing resources that can be deployed quickly, with a focus on rapid response and recovery for the devastating wildfires that are still taking place on Maui.
HCF is working in close collaboration with state and county leaders, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and philanthropists to get a clear understanding of the quickly evolving priorities in our community.
Direct monetary donations for West Maui school communities
The Public Schools of Hawai‘i Foundation (PSHF) is partnering with the Hawai‘i State Department of Education to support our public school communities impacted by the destructive wildfires on Maui.
The most immediate need and request from our Maui schools is for monetary donations that can provide direct support for response efforts.
All monetary donations in support of this effort received by PSHF from Aug. 7, 2023 through Oct. 1, 2023 will be designated solely for Maui public schools affected by the wildfire disaster (Note: The PSHF website is being updated to reflect this campaign effort). Tax deductible credit card contributions may be made online or via check payable to Public Schools of Hawai‘i Foundation and mailed to P. O. Box 4148 Honolulu, Hawaii 96812.
Questions? Call (808) 375-5336 or email pshf88@gmail.com
