Hi my name is Arantxa Sanchez and I'm writing on behalf of my sister Jessica Bellomo. In hopes that you will support her classroom after the fires that have been devastating California.

On January 7, 2025 a fire started in Altadena California that quickly got out of control. It will be later named the Eaton Canyon fire. In its path was Pasadena Rosebud Academy Charter school were my sister is the third grade teacher. There was a small hope from me that the school would only have limited damage but in the morning of January 8 reality struck. She called in tears for what her and her students had lost, their home away from home. It was her first year of being a full time teacher with her own classroom so she put a lot of love and time into her room. She reflected on all the donations from family and friends that had helped her get started, because what no one stops to thinking about is how much teachers take out of their own pockets to make their fours walls a classroom. The year before she started teaching she started thrifting items for her classroom. She had the best little library for her kids, back in October her third grade class was awarded a banner for having the best readers in the school.

Even while she was hurting she was working on helping her kids and their families find resources. As of this post five of her kids have lost everything. The school has a minority enrollment of 98% and economically disadvantaged students. As a first generation Latina graduate she is familiar with having just enough to get by and I know she always tried to go above and beyond for her kids. She had incentives for participation and treats at the end of the week. She also provided school supplies, games, art supplies and her own decorations all provided by her own money or donations from family.

She is going to need help now more than ever. If she could get a little piece of goods news right now I know she would really appreciate it. Just so she knows that when her kids walk into her classroom again it’s going to be safe space for them.