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- On Aug. 24, Dave Nagler, bishop of the Pacifica Synod, and Ron Rucker, interim pastor of Kihei (Maui) Lutheran Church in Hawaii, toured the area to view the destruction caused by wildfires.
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- Downed power lines in Maui, Hawaii.
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- View of a neighborhood destroyed by the wildfires.
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- Members of Kihei Lutheran Church pose with Dave Nagler, bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod, and Ron Rucker, interim pastor of the congregation.
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- A box of slippahs donated by the daughter of a deceased member of Kihei (Maui) Lutheran Church.
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- A box of hygiene kits sent from Faith Lutheran Church in Naples, Fla., to help with wildfire relief.
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- A donation site at Lahaina Gateway shopping center with donations for survivors of the Maui wildfire.
Members of Kihei (Maui) Lutheran Church are collecting and distributing relief supplies to help those impacted by the wildfires in Lahaina, Maui. So far donations have included 690 hygiene items, 82 slippahs (flip-flop slippers) and 30 prayer shawls that the congregation had collected for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday on Sept. 10.
Ron Rucker, interim pastor of Kihei Lutheran, said there are significant supplies stockpiled on the island, and money and supplies are still being donated. Cleanup and the search for missing people continues.
Rucker and Dave Nagler, bishop of the Pacifica Synod, toured the area on Aug. 22. “The devastation is more than the loss of lives, homes and businesses,” Nagler said. “It is an emotional and spiritual wound in the heart of this community. Yet, you can see God already working in and through the hearts and hands of this community to knit this island back together. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of aloha from people around the country who have reached out and contributed to the recovery. May the rebuild be thoughtful, intentional and focused primarily on the needs of the locals.”
Lutheran Disaster Response is coordinating with the Pacifica Synod and other partners to assess the needs of people impacted by the wildfires and to provide for immediate needs and recovery amid the widespread destruction. To help with relief efforts, you can donate to Lutheran Disaster Response.
