As the Maui wildfires continue to destroy the island, celebrities and organizations are offering help to those impacted. Oprah Winfrey landed in Maui to distribute and donate supplies to people displaced by the wildfires on the island.
“It’s a little overwhelming, you know,” Winfrey told BBC while at the stadium. “But I’m really so pleased to have so many people, you know, supporting, and people are just bringing what they can and doing what they can.”
Winfrey told the outlet that she arrived early to see what people needed.
“So I came earlier, just to see what people needed, and then went shopping because often you make donations of clothes or whatever, and it’s not really what people need. So I actually went to Walmart and Costco and got pillows, shampoo, diapers, sheets, pillowcases,” Winfrey said.
The former talk show host unpacked supplies and made makeshift beds at the evacuation center. Winfrey also took time to speak with the residents at the center.
According to Hawaii News Now, Winfrey has been a part-time resident of the island for more than fifteen years and owns more than 2,000 acres.
What we know about the wildfires
Maui County reported that the death toll from the Maui wildfires has risen to 55 people. The county also shared that 80% of a fire in Lahaina was contained, while 70% of a fire in Pulehu was contained. Firefighters are currently working to secure the perimeter and a fire in Upcountry Maui is awaiting assessment.
The wildfires resulted from a mix of dry land and low humidity, which created “fire weather.” The wildfires destroyed the majority of the historic town of Lahaina.
Nonprofits such as ‘Āina Momona are raising money for the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui County Strong Fund to help residents.