My great-aunt Julie has lost everything in the Altadena fires. Her home for 50 years is now gone, and she is in the process of starting over at 74 years old. My family would like to reach out for help for my great-aunt.

Julie worked as an English teacher in Arcadia for 30 years. She is a beloved educator, and has impacted many people's lives through her work with English and ELD students. Her work was a public service, and she will be forever proud of the students who came through her classroom. Julie is now retired and has been pursuing her painting.

In the early 60s, Julie, her parents and two sisters moved into their family home. It would have been in our family for almost 70 years, until last week. This home was a center for our family. Over the years, it held a sense of place for many people, friends and family alike. Julie took care of her parents, my great-grandparents, in that house in their final years. We will always treasure the many memories of that home, with its beautiful gardens, sycamore trees, and lovely roses.

When the Altadena fire came roaring into her neighborhood, Julie had only a few minutes to evacuate with just the clothes on her back. She managed with the help of a friend to grab some artwork painted by her father, sister, and many friends over the years. Unfortunately she still lost art, documents, heirlooms, and all of her belongings. Time ran out as the wind was howling and the flames were approaching.

She is not the first in our family to lose her home in a catastrophic wildfire. In September 2020, Julie's older sister, Susan, and niece, Marcella, both lost their homes to the Almeda fire in Talent, Oregon. We have been through this before as a family, and it is heartbreaking for this to happen to another family member again.

Julie is grateful to family and friends who have been able to help her, but she lost everything in this horrific fire. Anything you can donate would be most appreciated as she needs to rebuild her life. If you are able and wish to contribute, please donate to our Gofundme. There are so many who have been devastated with the loss of their homes in Altadena. It is overwhelming.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Isabella Ro Ruikis