Local nonprofit set to visit Lahaina one year after Maui wildfires

San Diego nonprofit Care House has been aiding the underhoused and underserved youth across San Diego County since 1986. Now, the organization aims to spread its reach and make a difference for the survivors of the 2023 Maui wildfires. A group of Care House staff, board members, and volunteers will visit the island in August 2024 with a $12,000 fundraising goal that will go toward a variety of programs including two educational art projects, two community dinners, a trauma-informed lecture for parents, a gift distribution, and a presentation of resources for both Lahainaluna High School and Maui Youth and Family Services.

The unique relationship between the San Diego nonprofit and the people of Maui, specifically Lahaina, began in 2016 when Care House board members realized that due to an increasing homeless crisis on the island, Maui’s demand for help and resources aligned starkly with those suffering here in San Diego. The realization that there was much more to be done came in the years that followed, and with each visit Care House made to the island — bringing gifts, providing educational lectures, and more — the need for addressing additional, much required services became evident. Then, the Maui wildfires ravaged the small, coastal town of Lahaina in August 2023, and the years of relationship-building had reached a pivotal moment. During the fires, which started shortly after midnight on August 8, 2023, more than 100 people lost their lives, and approximately 2,200 homes and buildings were destroyed.

Months after the devistation, a Care House board member was able to visit Lahaina to deliver Christmas gifts to impacted families, including stockings and gift cards. It was during this time the nonprofit was able to assess the damage and decide how they could be of service to the survivors. It was then that they made a promise to return the following summer.

Care House is looking forward to reminding their friends on Maui that the world has not forgotten their loss — that the world has not forgotten them. If you would like to help with their efforts or learn more about Care House, please visit carehousekids.org. If you are interested in donating for the August relief trip, you can make a donation to the Care House PayPal account or Venmo account (@CarehouseSD) before July 25, 2024. For more information, please call or text 619.889.3442.