# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C5Bgt_CrRn_
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72590500-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/1a18a48ff4.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-03-27T16:00:00.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

Imagine losing your home of nearly 50 years to a devastating disaster. This is what 97-year-old Lucille “Cille” Macdonald went through after her home was destroyed by the fires in Lahaina, Hawaii.

She moved to the island with her husband in 1974, where they built their home with materials brought in by boat.

After her husband passed away eight years later, she continued to maintain their house on her own. When the fires began, her neighbor banged on her door and gave her a ride out of town on his truck. They tried to find shelter at nearby hotels, but there were no rooms available.

With no place to go, Cille had no choice but to sleep in the bed of the truck for four days. At the end of that time, she told her neighbor, “I want to go back to the house.” But he said simply, “I don’t think there’s a house.”

At the time, Cille didn’t know the state of her home but knew it was gone. Now, Cille is going through the difficult process of recovering and has experienced many challenges. She requires 24-hour care and had difficulty paying for it. Additionally, her previous helpers left for better-paying jobs, leaving her struggling to access the care she needed. She’s especially nervous to be left alone at night, since she is losing her vision — she has fallen before and landed in the hospital.

Fortunately, Red Cross volunteers helped Cille apply for financial assistance. She initially received immediate assistance after the fire from the Red Cross, and then, additional funding through our bridge assistance program to help her pay for the medical care she desperately needs. 

You can help people like Cille recover from devastating disasters across the country, and ensure they have the resources they need to recover and plan their next steps. Donate today on Red Cross Giving Day and provide comfort and relief when #HelpCantWait. ❤️

#RedCrossMonth #DisasterRelief #DisasterRecovery #Hawaii #RecoverySupport

## Stats

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- **Likes:** 225
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## Tags

hawaii, helpcantwait, redcrossmonth, disasterrecovery, recoverysupport, disasterrelief

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