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It’s been over a week since the devastating wildfires broke out on Maui. The news and pictures coming out of the area are just heartbreaking. Since the fires began, some rich people who own homes on Maui, like Oprah, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg, have pledged financial aid for recovery efforts (and I understand that there is a whole other discussion to be had about celebrities owning huge properties in Hawaii). Jose Andres set up a World Central Kitchen site to aid victims and first responders.
Matthew McConaughey and his family have also found a way to help out. They teamed up with a company called Baby2Baby to provide an emergency aid plane filled with supplies including diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, and hygiene products to directly assist children and families on Maui.
Matthew McConaughey and Levi McConaughey are spreading the word about their efforts to help Hawaiians in need.
The father and son took to Instagram in a video Tuesday as news from the devastating wildfires in Maui continues to trickle in, sharing their intent to provide support.
“McConaughey’s are funding an emergency aid plane with @Baby2Baby that is filled with hundreds of thousands more emergency supplies that will have an immediate impact on children and families on Maui,” they captioned the video.
“@Baby2Baby is working with their partners on the ground including @alohadiaperbank @mauifoodbank @hawaiidiaperbank @pacificbirthcollective @mauirapidresponse. Grateful we can help get these critical supplies to children and families who need it. If you would like to support relief efforts, please visit @baby2baby – @jklivinfoundation.”
In the video, the two share their upset at the devastation facing Hawaiians and plan of action for helping out.
“The fires over there have put so many people out of home and have taken so many lives. These people need to stabilize to stay alive. Camila, myself and Levi are working with this organization called Baby2Baby. They are working with partners that are on the ground in Maui right now saying, ‘This is what people need right now. This is what the most needy people need.'”
The actor, 53, continued, “If you’d like to help, check out Baby2Baby. See the work they’re doing or any other way you can help. There’s a lot of help that’s needed.”
Levi, 15, agreed, adding, “Yeah, they’re going to need it for the long-term, so any way you guys can help, it’s appreciated.”
I think it’s really nice that the McConaugheys are putting their money where their mouth is and that they involved Levi as well. I think we all want to teach our children to be good, kind neighbors that help those in need and, in general, pay it forward to this society that we’re all in together. I also like that they were respectful enough to not fly to Maui themselves and make a scene trying to insert themselves into the narrative. Officials are having enough trouble trying to keep entitled reporters under control.
If you or your family were affected by the wildfires, I am so sorry for what you’re going through. My heart is with your community. There are so many people who would like to provide support in whatever way we can. For anyone who is interested in ways that they can help, I asked a friend who is a local journalist in Hawaii (on Ohau) if he had any recommendations on where people who wanted to help could donate to. He recommended the Maui Strong fund from the Hawaii Community Foundation, as well as the Maui Food Bank, Red Cross, or World Central Kitchen.
My family has donated to World Central Kitchen. My husband works in Hawaii, not on Maui, and is devastated by what’s happened.
Good for them. I can’t even imagine the devastation in Maui right now, I wish I could do more than just give money.
Side note, woooow Levi looks so much like Camila, can’t believe he’s 15. In my mind their kids are still little!
From The NY Times article linked the other day, the Maui Humane Society needs food, litter, and pop up kennels and has an Amazon wishlist:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1817BTQ5MWOOG?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwAR2jREzvg02hyLahn_xz3c5OrvCZ8dW5Gt10P1qc6HigIZHJu3Mzc-U9mVw
Thank you for posting the site for the Humane Society teamed up with Amazon. Just ordered a few cases of cat food for them.
Thank you for that link!
Thank you for sharing this link! Tried to order 2 extra large crates for big pups and kept getting error messages. I know they must really need these items, so I’ll try again tomorrow .
I just finished listening to The Daily podcast about the fires and…pure. fucking. HELL.
I just cannot begin to wrap my mind around the sheer terror of what happened there–hot wind burning them? Just..an unfathomable nightmare. If people were lucky enough to survive, they lost everything. My heart hurts for the people of Hawaii and it’s great to see people rallying behind them. Good on Matt and his family.
I also appreciate they are bringing awareness and sending supplies but not taking the supplies in themselves.
Such a horrific tragedy. 💔
Thank you so much Baby2Baby, Camila, Levi and Matthew.
The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is also matching donations. My native Hawaiaan friends are giving through them.
https://www.hawaiiancouncil.org/
Thank you!
Does anyone know of a fund taking contributions for things like re-building? More long term problems? I only ask because I saw an interview with an official from the area last night or the night before, and he said they’ve gotten so many donations of items that they’re starting to have to turn things away.
I want to give but I think I’ve missed the window for certain things.
Try the organization in the link provided by @Elizabeth above. They say they’re responding to specific, changing needs.
I have also read they are no longer requesting clothing. I did some research and donated to the Hawaiian Community Foundation, Maui Strong Foundation mostly because their goals were to help in whatever need that arose. I think rebuilding would be included, along with so much else.
I appreciate the link to the Humane Society’s Wish List. My family is sending money instead of buying multiple gifts this Christmas, for us it is a better feeling to help these noble people.I
I have also read they are no longer requesting clothing. I did some research and donated to the Hawaiian Community Foundation, Maui Strong Foundation mostly because their goals were to help in whatever need that arose. I think rebuilding would be included, along with so much else.
I appreciate the link to the Humane Society’s Wish List. My family is sending money instead of buying multiple gifts for Christmas, they will need help for a long time.