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The committee, created in September 2023, a month after the fires, is donating the funds to the Maui Arts League. The aim is to support Maui artists and their families.

“We’re like brothers and sisters. ItÃÛèÖÊÓƵ like, ‘you do this and we’ll do that,’ and just back and forth,â€� said Tim Maahs, executive director of Rock County Historical Society. In 2022, the organizations collaborated to repurpose wooden hearts that were originally created during the COVID-19 pandemic to support local healthcare workers.

The wooden hearts were placed around the city as a sign of support. They were later auctioned off to raise money that was donated to the World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides fresh meals to those in crisis, to help feed Ukrainians affected by the 2022 Russian invasion. “If thereÃÛèÖÊÓƵ an idea to help, we do it,â€� Maahs said.

The first fundraising aim was to sell 5-to 8-inch wooden ornaments, such as turtles, whale tails and dolphins. Over 30 artists came together to paint and decorate 260 ornaments and encased them in resin at workshops at Basics Cooperative Natural Foods, 1711 Lodge Dr., Janesville.

“It was all done right here in town,� said Nancy McKinnon, chair of the committee. “Everyone at the workshops had a really good time. They knew how important this was and they really came together to get it done.� Most of the ornaments were sold last Christmas.

Leftover ornaments will be gifted to students at King Kamehameha III Elementary School in Maui, whose building was damaged beyond repair. “Their names will be written on the back along with Janesville, WI,� McKinnon said.

The L�hain� Banyan Tree, which is the heart of L�hain�, used to hold the art shows, she said. It is currently recovering from the fires. A stamp of the tree will be on the back of the ornaments as well.

McKinnon owned a condo in Maui for a decade. She and her husband would visit a couple of times a year and have become familiar with the L�hain� community.

“When the fires happened, I figured there was something we could do to help. I figured we could raise some money, so I reached out to Carol (Herzig) and Tim and a couple others and we just made it happen,� McKinnon said. Everyone was immediately on board, she said. “There was no hesitation.�

The plan was to try to raise the money in one year. “I think itÃÛèÖÊÓƵ really important that a small town in Wisconsin can bring people together, to become aware of what happened in Maui and raise this kind of money to send over to people in need,â€� McKinnon said.

During a recent trip to Maui to spread her husbands ashes, McKinnon found a wooden sign painted with the words, “Maui on my mind� which she brought back as inspiration for the committee.

To reach its goal, the committee is now selling two-foot wooden turtles. Each of the 42 turtles have a certificate of authenticity to showcase where the money is going.

Art league member Dick Lambrecht and his friend, Tom Lasse, gave their time to cut and sand the wooden turtles. Kegane Rynes, owner of RavenÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Wish Gallery, 101 W. Milwaukee St., donated 18 gallons of paint for the turtles.

Artists came together again to paint, decorate and encase the turtles in resin, which are being sold for $125 each or $200 depending on the embellishments such as shells.

“They’re beautiful. All of them are totally different,� said Carol Herzig, president of the Janesville Art League.

“The people that are part of the art league and members of the historical society, and the residents in general, are really good, generous and caring people,� Maahs said.

Some turtles were sold to the artist while others were sold at the Rock County Historical Society gift shop. Herzig organized the turtles to be sold at different events.

The turtles are available to purchase in Janesville at the Rock County Historical Society gift shop, 426 N. Jackson St.

They may also be found at:

• The Janesville WomanÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Club Garden Tour, 108 S. Jackson St., on Sunday, July 14. Tickets for the tour are $40 and the reservation deadline is Monday, July 8. (Call 608) 436-3050 for event details.

• The Fermenting Cellars Winery Art Walk, 2004 W. Manogue Rd., on Sunday, July 28. Call (608) 295-8972 for event details;

• The Tallman Arts Festival, 440 N. Jackson St., on August Saturday, 3, and Sunday, 4. Entrance fees are $5 per day. For more information, email taf@rchs.us.