Maui Health Facilities Supervisor, Antonio Piano, and Edilberto Alba, groundskeeper, load up a moving truck full of donated toys, estimated at about several hundred. — Photo courtesy Maui Health
Maui Health delivered several hundred community-donated toys in hopes of providing a little joy to keiki and their families on the west side after the Aug. 8 fires.
The toy drive was initially set up by Maui Health’s Medical Staff Services team to collect toys for Maui Health employees and providers impacted by the fires. They received so many donations from the Maui community, including a sizable donation from the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui, that they were able to provide toys to other children and families in need at hotel shelters in Kaanapali. Toys were also distributed to Napili Park for parents and children to pick up when utilizing the disaster resources available at the park.
“The outpouring of support from our staff and community was incredible, and we are so grateful,” Tina Chauvin, director of Medical Staff Service at Maui Health, said in a news release Monday. “We want to also thank the hotels that were able to accept the toys, including the Marriot, Sheraton, and Westin, who are housing many of the Lahaina families that lost their homes to the fires.”
“Additionally, a big mahalo goes out to Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui Executive Director Paul Tonnessen, who opened up their storage space and filled our delivery truck with boxes of toys,” Chauvin added. “We could not have made this huge of an impact without his help.”
Maui Health is also working with an Oahu donor who will provide 50 ukulele to children on Maui who lost their belongings in the fire.
Dr. Vijak Ayasanonda (right), emergency room physician at Maui Memorial Medical Center, and Director of Medical Staff Services Tina Chauvin pose with boxes of toys at Napili Park. — Photo courtesy Maui Health
Maui Health is continuing to provide outreach medical services to anyone in need at the Hyatt Regency Maui from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday. For updates on services and hours of operation, visit www.mauihealth.org/wildfire.
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