Wong helps raise nearly $75,000 for lava relief efforts

A GoFundMe account established in May by St. Louis Cardinals second baseman and Hilo native Kolten Wong has raised nearly $75,000 toward its $200,000 disaster relief goal in the month since eruption activity began in lower Puna.

According to the crowdfunding site, a total for $72,794 was raised by 989 people since the fundraiser was created May 7.

On the page is a four-minute video in which Wong makes his plea for assistance.

It concludes with Wong asking viewers “to please donate money and let’s help Hawaii get back on its feet.”

In an update posted to the site Monday, Wong said he is overwhelmed by the “huge amount of love and support that has been shown to the people of my beautiful home.”

Wong said in the update that he partnered with Habitat for Humanity Hawaii Island to act as the beneficiary of the campaign.

To donate or for more information, visit gofundme.com/hawaiinaturaldisastersrelief