Small Businesses In Seattle Have Helped Those Affected By Maui Wildfires, And So Can You
Local Seattle businesses have come together to assist with the wildfire disasters that have devastated Maui. Here's what you need to know.
Image by The Guardian
The Maui wildfires are the deadliest that the U.S. has seen since 1918. With at least 111 people dead, over 2,500 acres burned, and around 2,700 structures decimated (many homes), thousands of Maui residents are homeless with few resources.
Though located across the ocean, the Maui fires have profoundly affected the state of Washington.
Washington has the third largest population of Pacific Islanders in the United States. The Seattle region, especially, has various small businesses with origins from the islands of Hawai’i – all of which contribute to the local economy. Due to this, the Maui Fires personally impact the Seattle region and its residents.
According to KTVL, Washington’s own Task Force-1 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (WA-TF1) volunteered to fly out to Hawaii to assist with search and rescue missions. Task Force-1 is a team of members, some of which are local fire departments and police forces, from Pierce and King counties dedicated to assisting with the extrication of victims trapped by structural collapse.
In addition to the likes of government agencies, small business owners have come together in the Seattle region to organize funds to support Maui relief efforts.
If you’re looking for local sources that allow you to help those affected by the Maui Fires, below are just a few of the dozens of establishments around the Seattle area where you can donate or purchase items that assist the cause.
*Please note that due to the overwhelming support these businesses have received in their quest to help with the Maui disasters, they may not be taking donations when this article goes live. Please be sure to double-check their websites and social media pages for more information on how you can donate, and when.
Marination.
Having raised over $300,000 in just a couple of days, this Seattle favorite Hawaiian-Korean fusion cuisine has been dedicated to providing funds and relief to Maui. Marination is sending earnings from their spam musibis to two organizations, Maui Rapid Response and Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.
Gopokeseattle.
The family-owned, Seattle area staple is known for its Authentic Hawaiian Poke -and now for their huge efforts in helping with the Maui fires. At their Seattle area locations, they accept drop-off donations at their doors. Everything from shelf-stable food and clothing to first aid kits will be donated to Maui. Even better? Show proof that you donated and get a free regular dole whip! Who doesn’t love free food for a good cause?
Japantownseattle.
The historic Japantown Seattle is known for its treasure box of small, Asian-owned shops, food, and activities. Japantown is partnering with the Hawaii Community Foundation to fundraise for Maui.
They are also having donations during their annual summer fest. Please visit the link below for more details.
What You Can Do As A Small Business Owner To Help Maui
Taking a few cues from the section above, here’s what you can do as a small business owner if you wish to help with what’s happening in Maui:
Take Supply Donations.
You can set up drop-off locations for people to donate non-monetary goods to help with relief in Maui. This can be at your businesses’’ location or an off-site location. Keep in mind, though, that you may run out of storage space to put these donations in (that’s actually a good thing!). So, schedule certain days and a cut-off time to accept non-monetary donations.
Accept Monetary Donations.
You can accept monetary donations. These can be proceeds from a certain product you can donate to Maui. Alternatively, you can choose to set up a fundraiser on social media sites like Instagram, where interested people can donate directly.
Share Posts On Your Socials.
Perhaps the easiest and simplest option is to share donation links from organizations fundraising for Maui on your social media platforms! This works just as well as the other options regarding getting the word out.
In addition to the tireless work that the local Seattle community is doing to help with the Maui Fires, large corporations like Alaska Airlines are making it so that you can donate miles to help assist Maui residents with relocation. The Red Cross is also accepting donations.
Rachel Estes is a skilled copywriter with a talent for crafting captivating and informative articles and blogs. Her passion for keeping readers both informed and inspired shines through her writing, making her an invaluable asset to any project she takes on.
