Maui Fire Relief

More than 100 people are known to have died in wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui and many more are still missing. In historic Lahaina, 80% of the city is reported to be destroyed, and more than 11,000 people have been evacuated.

Our United Church of Christ denominational family has a long (and complicated) history in Hawai'i, and there are still many UCC churches there. (You can read a prayer and a recent update about the fires from the Hawai'i Conference, UCC below.)

This on-the-ground presence, these relationships and resources put us in a unique position to help both immediately and long term. We hope you will join us in giving generously to help our neighbors in need.
To be clear: Donations will go to help ALL Hawaiians in need, not just United Church of Christ members.
The Congregational Church of Needham will cover all PayPal fees so your donation will go further.

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Updates from the Hawai'i Conference, UCC
August 11, 2023

We are still in a time of disaster response and planning and the situation is very fluid. Our number one concern has been for peoples’ safety and well-being. We are assessing what peoples’ most pressing needs are at this time and trying to ensure that their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being are tended to.

The Conference is taking a two-pronged approach in our response. The first prong is immediate assistance through funds from the HCUCC disaster relief funds reserve. Funds could be used for gas, clothes, toiletries—those types of immediate needs. An initial release of funds was made Thursday.

The second prong is long-term recovery. Danny Tengan is heading this up as the Conference Disaster Ministries Coordinator. He is well-networked and is leading the way. Danny is active with Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) and has already advised that financial funds are the best way to help. Goods gathered on neighboring islands would need to be sorted by volunteers on Maui, straining the volunteer pool there. He sent out this notice yesterday:
  1. No food needed. (Salvation Army is the lead) – Too many unannounced volunteers dropping food off that is being wasted.
  2. Shelter numbers -Tavares - 103, Maui HS - 234, War Memorial - 265, Hawaii Convention Center - 622, Honolulu Airport - 1,400. No count at Maui LDS and King’s Chapel.
  3. Federal declaration for Individual Assistance approved.
  4. Five Cellular on Wheels (COW) inbound.
  5. DO NOT SELF DEPLOY!!!! Too many people plugging up the roads and not enough bed spaces.
  6. Red Cross has reunification number: 1-800-redcross.
  7. 211 is Hawaii State VOAD resource number for any type of services needed.
Further, Danny has already alerted our Maui pastors about VOAD’s Long Term Recovery Committee. The Conference will be working in partnership with the Committee which will open cases for each family affected.
A Prayer from Hawai'i Conference Minister, 
Rev. Dr. David Popham
It came so fast, God, relentlessly driven by winds, and we were so vulnerable. Escaping with the clothes on our backs. Lives in tatters. Homes gone. Business gone. Jobs gone. Lives lost. Where do we go to even raise our prayer when our hale pule (sacred place) became a burnt victim to the ravages of the fire? There is so much loss, so much that one day was there and is now ashes. Comfort us in our tears and carry our heavy hearts in our time of sorrow.
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Eventually, Ke Akua, our energy will turn to rebuilding our homes, our business, our jobs, our lives. Walk with us during the long recovery that lies ahead. We will become frustrated by bureaucratic red tape and supply chain delays and price gouging. We will fume and shake our fists and we will cry even more tears. Yet the journey will not be as overwhelming with you by our side.

Bless, O God, those fighting these wildfires and those fires yet to come during this dry season. Grant wisdom and insights to our government officials--county and state--as they navigate how best to administer the government response. Lift up on wings our pastoral leaders as they give spiritual nurture to those depleted by these fire.

May we root ourselves in you, God, knowing your Spirit groans with outs. Grant us succor in this time and in the days ahead. 'Amene.