Each of the children was very excited to have a bedroom personalized with their wishes. They feel truly blessed by the physical, spiritual, and emotional assistance and care given to them and know they can now move forward in dealing with the aftermath of this tragic fire.
The Makai Foundation and Lutheran Church Charities have covered the construction rebuilding costs of approximately $9,000. Maui Rapid Response and other trades helped rebuild the damaged house so this family could have a safe and permanent home for some time. Emmanuel Lutheran Church also purchased and delivered some of the supplies needed for this build.
Please prayerfully consider donating to help provide affordable housing options for families that lost everything. Your support can make a huge difference in the lives of those affected by these devastating fires. By providing affordable housing, we can help families get back on their feet and rebuild their lives. Join us in this mission to support the Maui community and provide hope for those who have lost everything. Together, we can make a difference!
Posted: January 23, 2024 
The recent wildfires in Maui have caused widespread devastation, displacing approximately 12,000 people and leading to the loss of over 3,000 homes, businesses, and land. The impact of these fires goes beyond just physical damage, as they have also caused a loss of identity and heritage, and a loss of ohana (family) for the affected communities.
With over 15,000 applications for assistance filed with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and SBA (Small Business Administration), it is clear that the people of Maui are in dire need of support. The fires have also worsened the existing housing crisis on the island, which was already a major issue before the disaster struck. This crisis has been exacerbated by the loss of affordable housing and jobs due to the fires, leaving many families struggling to make ends meet. It is clear that the people of Maui need our help and support during these difficult times.
A Multi-Generation Family Struggles to Find Affordable Housing
Lutheran Church Charities and Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Kahului are beginning to work with Rebekah Uccellini from the Makai Foundation to help meet the unmet needs of survivors.
Rebekah stated, "In the wake of the disaster, everyone and their brother wanted to help Maui. We knew that it was important for us to pause and listen for the invitation (kahea) of trust. We understood that there would likely be gaps in the system. We chose to observe and identify those gaps in order to ensure that we weren't going in with just best of intentions. We wanted to ensure we had a process in place to effectively catch those who were falling through the cracks in the system."
Exploring "Outside the Box" Options to Provide Affordable Housing for Families in Need
The Makai Foundation is looking into other “outside the box” options to provide affordable housing for families in need. Many properties on the island are in disrepair that, if fixed up, could house families. There is an opportunity for this family to create stability for themselves and return to nature and their cultural traditions on the magical western shores of Maui in Kahakuloa Valley.
Rebekah was introduced to another local family who has sixteen acres of land that’s been in their family for generations. They have watched as many of the homes on their homestead have fallen into disrepair but they haven’t had the resources to do the proper upgrades. It has been painful for them to watch these homes fall into disrepair. Their hearts have been wanting to help Lahaina families and to share what they have, so they have been providing spaces on the land since the fires - free of charge. Last week they showed Rebekah two homes on their land that they would be willing to provide, rent-free for a year, if the Makai Foundation could help them fix them up. The land is quite literally a little slice of heaven on earth. Rebekah brought these families together to see if it would be a good match. The families found out they knew the same people from Lahainaluna, shared stories about the pastor of the church they had gone to, and many tears were shed between them. Since the father of the displaced family is also a landscaper, he offered to help tend to the land, which was music to the owner’s ears. Rebekah states, "I️ watched as the children played on the land, and everyone came to life."
A Dream Land for Displaced Families
The land is an absolute dream and a prayer come true, knowing that by helping local families fix up their homes, they, in exchange, will be providing refuge for fire-affected families in need. Rebekah states, "There is much potential to provide more opportunities and affordable housing on the island for these families for the long haul with the help of willing partners, like Lutheran Church Charities and Emmanuel Lutheran Church."
Please prayerfully consider donating to help provide affordable housing options for this family in need. Your support can make a huge difference in the lives of those affected by these devastating fires. By providing affordable housing, we can help families get back on their feet and rebuild their lives. Join us in this mission to support the Maui community and provide hope for those who have lost everything. Together, we can make a difference!
Spiritual and Emotional Care Needs for Survivors
Emmanuel leadership is also exploring options to provide a dinner for survivors followed by a meeting place for adults to receive support and children to play and explore art therapy, which has been well-received in the community recovery centers that will be closing at the end of the month.
Lutheran Church Charities continues to support and encourage Emmanuel Lutheran Church leaders as they navigate the next phase of this long-term recovery process and minister to those affected by the devastating fire. Emmanuel Lutheran School has also continued to provide requested items needed to the community distribution points for survivors in Lahaina and Kula. The congregation of Emmanuel and the people they have met and minister to extend heartfelt "Mahalo nui" for prayers and financial support sent on their behalf.
About the Makai Foundation
The Makai Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity focused on rebuilding Maui after the deadly wildfires of 2023. Their goal is to:
They do this by partnering with local businesses, organizations, churches, and individuals who can provide assistance for survivors, especially those who fall between the cracks, and without the red tape many government and other agencies may have.
They do this by publishing brief stories about the survivor with unmet needs and the amount requested to meet these needs for the donors/partners to see if they could help. This is where Emmanuel Lutheran Church and LCC will assist in meeting these identified and vetted unmet needs of families and individuals.
Unity Walk Rallies Lahaina Community
We invite you to watch the broadcast from The Unity Walk that took place along LCC's Hearts of Mercy & Compassion and crosses at the memorial site.
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