Mesquite Residents Give To Help With Maui Fire Losses

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

In the days since the tragic Maui fire happened on Aug. 8, Mesquite citizens have jumped into action to help those in Hawaii who have lost everything.

The Mesquite Police Department recently its first-ever Back-to-school Shop-with-a-cop, using funds left over from last year’s annual Christmas-time event. Seeing that some children in local elementary schools did not have proper shoes/clothes on the first day of school, officers took about 30 kids to Walmart to get them geared up for school.

Knew that there were still funds left from generous donors of Mesquite last Christmas, Police Chief MaQuade Chesley then had a talk with Mesquite Mayor Al Litman, who had lived many years in Lahaina, Maui.

That talk resulted in a moment’s notice children’s clothing drive. Items were donated by friends and families of the local police and others who were around at the right time. The Police went back to Walmart and used the rest of the funds to buy out a sale rack of children’s clothing.

Boxes were then packed and shipped off to Maui. Of this act of generosity, Mayor Litman said, “God bless our police for all they do!”

But that wasn’t the only local initiative to help the folks of Maui. Last week, Eureka Resorts put together a special Saturday buffet dinner featuring Hawaiian food. All the proceeds from the fundraiser dinner went help the Lahaina people.

Eureka posted a notice on social media and also on their large sign at the corner of Mesa and Pioneer. The word spread around town quickly.“I am just glad we could help out,” said Eureka Food and Beverage Manager, Robert Montoya in the days leading up to the event. “I hope people show up to it.”

People did show up in droves on Saturday evening. Many came dressed in their Hawaiian-style clothing. More than $8,500 was raised from the event to help in Lahaina, Maui.

Among the many patrons was Dr. Maile Kane and her 96-year-old mother. They are both from Lahaina and now living in Mesquite. They had two long tables full of friends who wanted to help out.

Gerri Chasko, the Director of Eureka’s Community Initiative said, “Eureka will be matching the money raised at the buffet dinner. We will donate primarily to the Red Cross, but other organizations are also being considered.”

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