Support the Children of the Maui Wildfires
🙏🏼 details and updates can be found at the bottom of this post 🙏🏼
Aloha, Friend.
We all give in different ways and may have already given support to the Maui Wildfires. Thank you for your prayers, kindness and support.
Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you feel called to or you think would be interested in supporting the children of the Maui wildfires. 🙏🏼
On August 8th, catastrophic and devastating wildfires whipped through Maui affecting different parts of the island and wiping out much of the historic town of Lahaina. These fires remind us everything can change in the blink of an eye. As family, friends or friends of friends of friends, you’ve asked us to share how you can support.
There are many wonderful trusted and verifiable sites out there. The process of recovery will be long and I’ll share more in the months to come. Today, right now, by the grace of goodness, I’m personally involved in an effort to support the keiki (children) of the maui wildfires and wanted to share more about what we’re doing in partnership with a friend who lives on the island.
The Short Story…
I met an earth angel, a woman with a heart for community outreach, through an elementary childhood friend whose family lives on Maui. (Thank you, Gene, and cousin Jon!) Her name is Antoinette (lovingly called Anto) and her feet are on the ground making magic happen daily. She noticed—while volunteering (for the Red Cross) and helping displaced families—that the kids had nothing. While they were receiving the basic necessities, they had nothing to engage with nor keep them entertained.
So, along with her earth angel daughter, Michelle (we lovingly call Michi), and myself, we have created an Amazon registry for kids :: Kokua our Maui keiki to receive something after losing everything. While I’m helping them grow the list of available items, they are doing the hands-on work. Please send them your blessings.
Anto has been helping in countless ways. Just a few examples range from taking gas to Lahaina for those stranded, providing dinners to families, and finding temporary homes for the displaced. She has endless contacts helping her in her efforts as well.
One hotel is setting up a room for some of the donations to be stored in. As children arrive, they will stop by and pick up an item or two. Children that are already placed in hotels will also receive items from the donation list. In the meantime, Anto’s contact list of families in temporary homes continues to grow. Your donations WILL find their way into the hands of the children daily. Hyatt just received under 400 families this week.
Who are We, Dave & I?
If you came by this post from a friend of a friend of a friend you may want to know more. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
My husband, Dave and I own a condo in Maui. It holds a special place in our hearts for many reasons. We visited my In-laws annually since 1997 until purchasing a condo in 2019 near my father-in-law. Since 2020, we spend 4-5 months a year there. The medicine and magic of Maui can be felt when you’re on the island.
Right now, our hearts ache for the people, animals, and land and we want to be in service to the island and its needs. It’s going to be a long process for these families. Personally, we have been fortunate to gladly welcome into our condo a family of 5 who lost their home in the fire by way of Anto. The folks with upcoming reservations for our unit graciously cancelled or rescheduled their trip so this family can stay through the year. The kindness and generosity is abundant.
The stories and pictures that Anto and the family in our home have shared are heartbreaking, unfathomable, and also magical. If you feel called, please click the link below and consider purchasing something for the children of the maui wildfires.
Support the Children of Maui Wildfires :: Kokua our Maui keiki
*if there is something you’d like to purchase for the keiki that is not on the list, please send (jen@amightykindness.org) me the amazon link and we will have it added for you to purchase – with much gratitude
Details and Updates
Information and updates will be shared along the way. This is our first update:
📢 8/18/23 School had just started the first of August. Many of the keiki will be attending online school in which computers are needed. Anto has a list and it keeps growing of those in need and will be hand delivering the computers.
📦8/19/23 When placing your order, choose items directly from the gift registry. When prompted to choose a shipment address for shipment, choose: Antoinette Palisbo’s Gift Registry Address. It should be the 2nd choice under your default shipping address. Questions, feel free to reach out: jen@jentrulson.com
With Love & Kindness and Mahalo nui loa,
xox, jen
image: rainbow over ocean looking at west maui
credit: my maui neighbor Rada
