Carol Santos, who lost her home in the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, hugs her daughter during an emotional ceremony Saturday in which Samaritan's Purse, a Christian humanitarian organization, gave Santos the keys to a new home. Behind Santos in the background stands Luther Harrison, vice president of North American Ministries for Samaritan’s Purse. The Maui News/Eli Pace

Carol Santos cried happy tears as she took the keys to her new home in Lahaina surrounded by her family, friends and some of the people who helped make the gift possible and built it with love.

“My favorite part is this part right here, where everybody gathers in my kitchen,” Santos said with dozens of people milling about her new home Saturday. “I’m just so excited, just so excited that this is going to be love, that people are welcome and I’m going to be bringing people in.”

Santos survived the 2023 wildfires with her children who had to flee the flames on foot and ended up scattered across the island in its aftermath. Santos recalled that for days after the fire she didn’t know if her daughter or her daughter’s children were OK because there was no way she could get in contact with them.

For Santos, the new home that was given to her by Samaritan’s Purse brings a sense of security to her and her family as they continue to rebuild their lives.

Carol Santos holds up the keys to her new home in Lahaina during a ceremony on Saturday with numerous volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse, a faith-based humanitarian organization that is rebuilding dozens of homes for fire survivors.

Over the weekend, Samaritan’s Purse dedicated three newly built homes in Lahaina for families who survived the state’s deadliest wildfire in history.

“Because of the love, because of their love, I could move forward,” Santos said. “I was never, ever stuck. … It’s like, ‘Lord, it is yours.’ You said you’re going to help me. I’ve got to stand on that word and just the love knowing that he’s so real and he’s not a God that will ever leave you.”

Carol Santos gets a big hug as Samaritan’s Purse presents her with the keys to her new home Saturday in Lahaina. The Maui News / Eli Pace

Samaritan’s Purse is a faith-based humanitarian organization that responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations, and the organization has been assisting Maui residents since the fires.

“Everything was just in a real state of chaos,” recalled Luther Harrison, vice president of North American Ministries for Samaritan’s Purse. “I mean, search and rescue was going on. People were needing supplies, so we left the mainland with a DC-8 (cargo plane) full of equipment and supplies and also a 757 that we brought and unloaded here.”

Over the course of the Samaritan Purse’s response to the Maui wildfires, more than 700 volunteers provided assistance to as many as 900 families, according to the organization.

“When (the affected residents) would give us permission to do content recovery, we would come and we would sift through the ashes and find things like wedding rings, diamonds — diamonds don’t perish in a fire — so you find things that provide healing and closure for these families,” Harrison said.

Harrison returned to Maui to attend a series of key presentations for families whose homes were destroyed in the 2023 wildfires.

Samaritan’s Purse works under local construction companies to manage permits while volunteers from the organization are able to come in, stay at the Lahaina Baptist Church and expedite the construction process by helping with tasks like painting and hanging cabinets.

“You know, these families have waited a long time now, and Samaritan’s Purse, we’re not using any government grant money for these homes,” Harrison said.

Carol Santos and her friends and family pose for a group photo outside Santos’ new home on Saturday with volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse. The Maui News/Eli Pace

Currently, Samaritan’s Purse has 16 homes under construction with 24 more approved for rebuilding in Lahaina. Based out of Boone, North Carolina, the organization is also helping 18 families replace essential furniture lost in the fires.

“We thank God for the opportunity to dedicate these brand-new homes in Jesus’ name for Lahaina families that survived the deadly wildfires and are still trying to rebuild their lives,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, in a statement. “These homes will serve as a tangible reminder that God cares for them and has not forgotten them. We’re still here at work and will continue to build and dedicate many more homes in the months ahead.”

Harrison said the families that receive homes through Samaritan’s Purse are being given a free gift “just like we were sharing in the salvation.”

Erik Naylor, pastor at Lahaina Baptist, leads a prayer inside Carol Santos’ new home with Santos and her daughter standing beside him. The Maui News/Eli Pace

As a busy scene unfolded inside her new home Saturday, Santos told one of the people from Samaritan’s Purse they are welcome back anytime.

“I mean hands on, wherever you came from, you’re family,” she said. “You come back and you come visit me. You know where I live now.”

For more about Samaritan’s Purse relief efforts, go to www.SamaritansPurse.org.