Help Donna Find New Home After Palisades Fires

Dear family and friends (new and old),

On Tuesday, January 7th, my mom Donna was forced to evacuate her home due to the devastating fires that swept through the Pacific Palisades, and much of Southern California. Her townhouse in The Highlands was a rental, and while mostly still standing, will be uninhabitable for months - she was also uninsured. As a result, she is now forced to find new long term housing. Over the past two weeks she's stayed in three Airbnbs, and two hotels as we navigate various assistance programs + social services - not an easy task for anyone let alone a single working mother with health issues.

To better understand the situation, I'd like to tell you a bit about her.

Donna is a vibrant 75 year old, originally from Michigan, with a brilliant sense of humor and compassion. She was living on her own, supporting herself, and working as a mobile nail technician until she was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. I don't mean to say this lightly... I also don't want to conflate her housing needs with her healthcare - she receives medicare and is very well taken care of, albeit on her own as I live on the east coast. She is a fighter, always has been, always will be. She has an incredibly resilient spirit, but this year has been incredibly taxing, and the fires / displacement along with supplementary medical support has created a challenging financial burden as a result.

Our goal for fundraising is... well, to be honest, every bit helps. I've made the total goal $9,000, which is $1,500/month for the next 6 months, the time I believe she'll need to get up on her feet, settled in a new home... with comfortable clothes, supplies, food, gas money etc.

Anything in excess or on top of that goal will be used to fund additional months of rent (if we're fortunate enough to get there!)

Lastly, this fundraiser is also to show her the resilience and human spirit of her extended network. She's lost some faith that people still care, and believes the world has somehow left her behind... I'm here to show her that is not the case, not at all.

Thank you for your consideration, attention, thoughtfulness - thank you so very much.

I'll be sure to give updates as her situation evolves.

With love - stay safe and be kind to one another,

Eric & Donna Jaffe

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About me: My name is Eric, Donna's son. I live in Massachusetts with my beautiful wife and energetic, loving two year old. I'm able to see my mom a few times a year, however not living near her during the evacuations has left me feeling distant, and less than helpful. As a son of a single mom, I'm fiercely protective of her, and simply want her safe, happy, and taken care of.