Coffee Sarap was recently featured on Denver7 because of the close ties to a family suffering from the Lahaina Fire. To watch the full news segment, see below
Financial support encouraged to help Maui and avoid a 'second disaster'
'Second disaster' occurs when well-intentioned goods overwhelm disaster zone
Posted: 9:11 AM, Aug 14, 2023
Updated: 1:58 PM, Aug 14, 2023
By: Colette Bordelon
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — The death toll of the Maui wildfires has reached 96 people, meaning it is the deadliest wildfire in more than a century in United States. That is only expected to rise as the search for missing people continues.
In Castle Rock, Chelsey Solemsaas has a deep connection with Lahaina. One of her best friends, who she met while attending college in Hawaii, was born and raised in Lahaina. Her name is Keisha Pagdilao, and she currently lives on Oahu.
“She couldn't sleep. She couldn't eat. It was almost over 24 hours where she didn't know if her family was safe or not. She just knew that the fires were happening and she couldn't reach anyone," Solemsaas said, explaining that cell towers are destroyed and it is difficult to reach people on Maui.
Pagdilao's twin sister is a firefighter in Lahaina.
"She never cries. She is like the most level-headed. She was meant to be a firefighter," Solemsaas said. "But, she was crying. And she told Keisha, Lahaina's gone, everything's gone. And then because of the fires, the phone cut out. Just completely lost.”
RELATED: Here's how you can help Maui residents amid deadly wildfires
The family lost everything in the fire, including an extended family member. Hearing what one of her best friend's family was experiencing made Solemsaas feel helpless, and she had to do something. Her support came in the form of her business Coffee Sarap, and a drink called the Lahaina Latte. Half of the proceeds from the latte will be donated directly to the Pagdilao family.
“I had a customer come up to me the next day, and she was part of the Marshall Fire. And she gave me cash, like, just right up front, and she goes, 'Is there any way you can get this to your friend?' And I said, 'Oh, absolutely. Like, thank you so much,'" Solemsaas recalled. “'People donated a bunch of stuff to us from the Marshall Fire.' She goes, 'I got an instant pot but I have no kitchen to plug it into. I needed money, not things.' And so I thought that was just such a powerful statement in itself.”
The Pagdilao family GoFundMe reached half of their goal, and Denver7 verified the fundraiser through GoFundMe.
For the full article, see https://www.denver7.com/news/front-range/castle-rock/financial-support-encouraged-to-help-maui-and-avoid-a-second-disaster
