The Hawaiian island of Maui was devastated by raging wildfires last week that led to the death of 96 people and the forced evacuation of thousands more. It’s been called the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history.
The community is still reeling, particularly for those in Lahaina, a historic center for Hawaiian cultural heritage that was completely destroyed by the fire, and people are understandably looking for ways to help. Volunteers, aid organizations and local, national and international nonprofits are on the ground already and helping to provide food and shelter. With so many organizations actively involved in relief efforts, it can be hard to figure out where to start. Which organization should you donate to? How or what should you donate?
Patricia Illingworth, a professor of philosophy and business at Northeastern University and author of “Giving Now: Accelerating Human Rights for All,” says the best way to get started is by looking at a metacharity like Charity Navigator or Charity Watch. Metacharities evaluate the effectiveness of other charitable organizations and give them an easy to understand trustworthiness rating. Charity Navigator has already set up a page dedicated to organizations that are assisting with relief efforts in Maui.
