Maui Camp Update
Project:Camp is on the ground in Maui!
We are officially wrapped on our first week of camp in response to the wildfires here. It's been an emotional week for us as we've grappled with responding to a disaster that's taken the lives of more than 100 people and irrevocably changed the lives of many more. But when disaster strikes in the form of a natural hazard like this fire, we have seen time and time again how humanity responds to uplift and care for survivors. Since arriving on Maui, we have seen an outpouring of support – both for our program to take care of children, but also in a much larger sense as the island seeks to heal from this unimaginable tragedy.
To better understand what it takes for us to run a camp like the one we set up in Maui, here are the different components we put together:
Location: We were quickly connected with several local organizations who helped us understand the needs of children and families. The Maui Family YMCA in Kahului ultimately stepped up to host us and has been an absolutely phenomenal partner in every possible way.
Volunteers: The outpouring of support from Maui residents has been truly awe-inspiring. We've had nearly 200 volunteers sign up to help make sure kids on the island are safe and taken care of. Kaiāulu means community and we have seen first-hand what community means for the people of Hawaii.
Community Voice: I wouldn't do our partners justice to list everyone here, but Project:Camp has worked closely with the YMCA, Kama'aina Kids, Grow Some Good and many, many more to get the word out about camp. Huge shoutout to all the folks who helped spread the word.
Funding: We believe that money should never be a barrier to entry for any impacted family, and we are committed to keeping camp free for children and families. Thank you to all of the generous individuals who have stepped up to support our work. We are still accepting donations, so please consider making a gift today!
If you aren't already following us on social media, now is a great time to do so! We'll be posting camp updates from our on-site team and keeping you all informed as camp continues.
We stand in solidarity with the people of Maui, and look forward to doing our part to support the well-being of children impacted by these devastating fires.
With gratitude,
Mikey
