In July, 2016, Amanda and Mike Elswick, a couple of teachers from the St. Louis area, moved to the Big Island of Hawaii to teach in the Hawaii Public School System, and found their dream home in Kapoho Beach.  
Last week, they were forced to evacuate in the middle of the night, as lava reached their main road, threatening to completely isolate their neighborhood. They have spent the last week watching the lava maps and airial feeds of the progression, hoping it would somehow spare their home. 
Unfortunately, they saw the footage we have all been fearing, the lava flow taking the place of the home they loved. While they were able to get some of their “irreplaceable” items out, they have lost everything else.
This fund has been started by their family and friends back in St. Louis, to help them get back on their feet, and ease the stress of this awful situation. They literally have to replace everything they own, find a new place to live, and essentially start their lives all over again. While they do have “lava insurance”, they have no idea what it will cover, or when they will receive any funds. Thank you in advance for your generosity.