Kim and Adam Hays, The Fireweed Foundation | Every Little Bit
4/20/2026 | 2m 23sVideo has Closed Captions
After Typhoon Halong devastated Western Alaska, Kim and Adam Hays started a non-profit organization
In October 2025 Typhoon Halong devastated Western Alaska, displacing hundreds of people who were transported to Anchorage and other cities. Kim and Adam Hays saw people in need and rushed to help. Ultimately they started a non-profit organization that distributes clothing and outerwear to people affected by disasters.
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Every Little Bit is a local public television program presented by AK
made possible with support by Rasmuson Foundation
Kim and Adam Hays, The Fireweed Foundation | Every Little Bit
4/20/2026 | 2m 23sVideo has Closed Captions
In October 2025 Typhoon Halong devastated Western Alaska, displacing hundreds of people who were transported to Anchorage and other cities. Kim and Adam Hays saw people in need and rushed to help. Ultimately they started a non-profit organization that distributes clothing and outerwear to people affected by disasters.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipOne thing that I remember when we saw those images of all of the evacuees sitting on the floor of the cargo airplane, somebody mentioned that that that flight was totally silent.
Everyone on that plane was absolutely terrified.
where we both had this like, tug, where can we plug in even if it's really small?
Because after seeing those images of people coming here, we have to help these folks.
I'm Kim Hayes, and I'm Adam Hayes.
And we are from Anchorage, Alaska.
In October of 2025, the remnants of Typhoon Halong hit the west coast of Alaska and really devastated 13 communities.
Displacing, I think it was 2500 people, give or take.
And the state evacuated, many of those people to Anchorage and Bethel and other communities.
As you can imagine, with a new fledgling organization, the mission evolves, but right now it's, recognizing that disasters happen quickly.
Our aim is to get basic needs, specifically winter gear and other essentials to Alaskans facing disaster and emergencies These people, many of them get off an airplane with a trash bag.
And there was they had no possessions.
They had no house.
They had they you know, a lot of them were missing their pets, which was really traumatic.
I just think at a really basic level, I would hope people would do the same for Adam and I if we were facing this disaster.
And I also think it's just part of living in society.
You help each other out.
One of the aspects of doing this type of work is involving our kids.
We have three boys, and I think it's really important and critical in their development just to see what you can do if you put your mind to something.
They're also hard workers.
And, we come with a little army of, volunteers everywhere we go.
So it's fun to bring them into it.
when this, disaster happened in western Alaska, he wanted to quit his job and go to work for an organization and do this full time.
And we kind of backed it up and said, what if we help in our own way?
That was kind of my bringing it back to realism.
And I think that's how the only way we work together, right, true.
I agree 100%.
Every atom needs a Kim.
Yep,
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Every Little Bit is a local public television program presented by AK
made possible with support by Rasmuson Foundation