How to Help Maui Fire Victims and Support Recovery Efforts
SDSU alumna describes the challenges of paying bills and putting food on the table in Lahaina fire aftermath.
San Diego State University’s community is mobilizing support and recovery efforts for the victims of the devastating Maui wildfires.
The Aug. 8 blaze engulfed the old whaling town of Lahaina resulting in loss of life and destroying more than 3,000 structures. The damage displaced an estimated 4,500 people leaving them in need of shelter and other essential supplies, according to local reports.
“All of our thoughts and care are with the people of Maui, today. We grieve for those lost,” said SDSU president Adela de la Torre following an Aug. 10 message to students, faculty, and staff. "When disasters such as these occur, especially when they directly and indirectly impact members of our campus community, we come together to support one another."
"We are a community of compassion and care, and we thank those of you who are coming forward to help others," de la Torre wrote.
SDSU’s response assembled quickly following the horrifying images and catastrophic reports that reached the mainland in near real-time — some stories told by fellow Aztecs directly impacted by the disaster.
“Everybody's just in a state of shock and devastation and mourning,” Tierra Sierra Gosin (‘17 biology) said. “It’s going to take time to build back.”
Gosin and her husband, Fabian, own a beekeeping business on Maui and lost a huge portion of their honey inventory with the loss of an employee’s home that was being used for storage.
For families who lost a place to live, she said, donations can be put to immediate use paying bills or just “to put food on the table,” said Gosin.
Among the many verified organizations that are providing support is the Maui Strong Fund.
