Arthur Valencia, his wife, Tara, and their three children, Maele, Gabriel and Mia speak with American Red Cross staff members Doyle Rader, Shari Frank and Ned Worman at the Red Cross shelter at the War Memorial Gymnasium in Wailuku on Maui.
Scott Dalton / American Red Cross
Scott Dalton / American Red Cross
Arthur Valencia, his wife, Tara, and their three children, Maele, Gabriel and Mia speak with American Red Cross staff members Doyle Rader, Shari Frank and Ned Worman at the Red Cross shelter at the War Memorial Gymnasium in Wailuku on Maui.
Following last week’s wildfire in Maui, over 100 people are dead and about 1,300 are still missing. Recovery efforts are ongoing, and organizations are looking for volunteers and donations to help the affected Hawaiians.
Among those who traveled to Maui to provide on-the-ground support are four Pennsylvanians who are working through the American Red Cross. One is from Berks County, one from Erie County, and two from Crawford County. Nicole Roshella, the regional communications manager for the Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania, said most of them are working in reunification, and one is involved in logistical planning.
Roshella said there are five virtual workers from Pennsylvania who are helping with reunification by answering calls to the hotline and helping locate family members.
The Red Cross also has people helping with the housing, feeding, and health of Maui residents. Roshella said the concern right now is to meet everyone’s “immediate needs.”
While volunteers are always needed, Roshella said the best thing the average person can do is make a financial donation. If people want to donate to the Red Cross, they can do so through the website or by calling 800-733-2767. Other options for donations include Maui-based organizations such as the Maui Strong Fund and Aloha United Way.
“It’s the quickest way to get help to them, and it also means that we can be really flexible on using that financial donation and put it towards what’s needed most,” she said.
However, she said she hopes this disaster could inspire people to volunteer in the future.
“Hurricanes are going to be coming up next, and that’s another area where we have those larger disaster relief operations. So, we’re always looking for volunteers because we know the next disaster is on its way.”
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