Help Finish Michelle & Aaron's Rebuild Journey

Michelle & Aaron's Home Rebuild –

Help Us Come Home

Goal

$275,000

Help Us Come Home – Rebuilding After the Glass Fire We, like many, lost our home of 35 years in the 2020 Glass Fire.
The shock of that loss—the loss of our entire neighborhood —cannot be overstated. It is nearly 5 years for us since this life changing event and somehow with the passing of time has served only to magnify the apocalyptic effect on our lives. We still are in disbelief that such a thing could have come to pass.
In the aftermath, we were among the few in our neighborhood who chose to rebuild.
If we had known then what we know now, we might have chosen differently. We thought at the time, that between insurance and our own resources, we had what we needed to rebuild within the footprint of our original home. What we didn’t anticipate were the uphill permit requirements: engineering reports, costly code upgrades, and the price of skyrocketing materials— wood & concrete at nearly double its pre-fire price. But even in the midst of loss, we saw opportunity.
We envisioned a more energy-efficient home to correct the burdens of our old one. We incorporated ADA-accessible design for Aaron to make it easier from him with his physical challenges. And as we are both chefs, a kitchen design that actually works for how we cook. Our contractor, Pedro Cortes, has been extraordinary—meticulous, compassionate, and unwavering. When insurance delays held up funds, he kept the project moving out of his own pocket. This is something few in his position would consider.. He half-jokes that completing our home has become his life’s work. Now, nearly five years later, the house is about 80% complete. The structure is beautiful. But our funding has come to an end. The final stages— the plumbing & electrical finishes, cabinetry, HVAC, interior doors, closets, bathroom finishes and hardscaping—are all that remain. What feels like “the basics” on paper has ballooned into costs that feel insurmountable. Why We’re Asking for Help This campaign is to raise the remaining $275,000 needed to complete our home and finally move back into the neighborhood we’ve known for most of our lives. Every donation—no matter how small—brings us closer to that goal. We’re so grateful to anyone who is willing to help us take this final step. Thank you for reading, for caring, and for supporting our journey home. —Michelle & Aaron