Salvation Army responds to Maui wildfires with mass feeding for thousands at Maui shelters
Written By: David Sayre
Photo credit: NBC News/Chris Sugidono / County of Maui via AP
HONOLULU (August 9, 2023) – The Salvation Army’s Kahului Corps is starting mass feedings for thousands at Maui County/American Red Cross shelter in response to various wildfire evacuations. They began providing meals last evening for the approximately 50 individuals who had taken shelter in Maui County’s/American Red Cross Pukalani shelter. That is now expanding across the island.
“The Salvation Army began providing meals at the Pukalani shelter last evening and is expanding to provide mass feedings for all shelters on Maui, in collaboration with Maui County and American Red Cross,” said Victor Leonardi, Divisional Director of Emergency Services & Safety for The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division.
In addition, large volume meal donations are being requested from local restaurants and certified kitchens [due to health safety food preparation standards] for meal service at shelters starting Wednesday, August 10 [meal service is already covered until this date]. Please note, smaller, home-prepared foods and meals cannot be accepted for meal service at shelters due to health safety food preparation standards.
Leonardi continued, “During emergencies, the best way the public can help is to provide monetary donations which allows the delivery of the exact relief supplies a community needs. Plus, The Salvation Army uses one-hundred percent of all donations designated ‘disaster relief’ in support of disaster operations.”
The Salvation Army is part of a team of agencies providing assistance during events and is a member of the State of Hawaii Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). Additionally, The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division is prepared to respond with community assistance as needed across the state due to the heavy winds and fires.
Donations may be made online at Hawaii.SalvationArmy.org. Listings of current volunteer opportunities also may be found at Hawaii.SalvationArmy.org.
About The Salvation Army Disaster Services
The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to serve those impacted by disasters, however long it takes, because they are there before, during, and after impact. Beyond serving immediate physical needs, they also meet the emotional and spiritual needs that are unique to catastrophic events. The Salvation Army:
Delivers disaster relief to an average of 382,000 people annually.
Serves every ZIP code in the United States and touches almost 25 million lives a year.
Has served survivors of every major national disaster since 1900.
Remains in communities until needs are met and beyond.
About The Salvation Army – Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division
The Salvation Army – Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division covers the state of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands including Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and The Federated States of Micronesia. In 2021, The Salvation Army was ranked #2 on the list of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. The Division offers a wide variety of programs throughout the islands including: affordable senior housing; at-risk youth services and housing; camp & conference center; church/religious services and programs; emergency disaster services; family stores; food distribution and feeding programs; homeless services; The Kroc Center – Hawaii’s largest community center; preschools & day care services; older adults; social services – emergency assistance; substance abuse treatment; women’s auxiliary; and women’s ministries. For more information, call 808-988-2136, visit hawaii.salvationarmy.org, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.