Papaya Family Recovery From Lahaina Fire

Hi, my name is Sarah Papaya. My husband, Vicente Papaya, and I have set up this fundraiser to raise funds for my husband's family who lost their house in the Lahaina Fire. This house was a home to:

Marvi and Hesard Castillo

Emily J Papaya (Grandma Emi)

Sarah and Tatz Daulong with daughters, Kim and Kaira

Annabelle Buenefe with son, Vince

And Hesard's mother, Leonora

Starting out as a place for Hesard to rent in the back many years ago, Marvi and Hesard were eventually able to buy the whole house. Together with Grandma Emi, they worked hard over the next decade or so to make it a home and happily welcomed two more sisters (Sarah and Annabelle) with their families from the Phillipines, and Hesard's mother to live with them. At a full house of 10 there was always a lot of life here, a lot of memories made, a lot of memories kept. This was a home and a promise of a new life in America. This was a place to come home to at the end of the day, a place to stay, talk story, and sing karaoke with family, a place to celebrate birthdays and graduations, a place to be together and mourn the loss of loved ones, a place to play with all the family pets, a place to cook and enjoy delectable home cooked meals, and yes during Covid this was a place for school too. This home was full of life.

All of that was suddenly torn away as the fires in Lahaina ravaged the town seemingly in the blink of an eye leaving nothing but burnt buildings and ashes where homes and businesses once stood. Everyone in the family made it out to safety but we anxiously awaited news of the home. I thought for sure, their house would be fine. But news came and it was devastating. The entire house burned to the ground. Everything gone. Even my husband's old car parked out front, burned. Fire has no mercy.

Please, we are asking for help for the whole family to get back up on their feet, to begin again. Any amount will help. This is a family that has always been generous and has always lended a helping hand. Always with open and giving hearts it is now their time of need. Let us help them as much as we can.

Thankyou for your help!