Help Jennifer & Lu Rebuild After Fire Loss

Hello, my name is Charlotte Reith, and I’m reaching out with a heavy heart to support my dear friend and adopted daughter, Jennifer, along with her loving husband, Lu. Recently, their lives were shattered by the catastrophic Eaton Fire in Los Angeles, which tragically consumed their home and everything they held dear.

A Loving Home and Thriving Business Lost

Jennifer and Lu built a warm and welcoming sanctuary together, where every member of their family—including their cherished rescue animals—was deeply valued. Their home was not just a place of shelter but also the heart of Jennifer’s personal training business. She transformed their garage into a thriving gym, creating a nurturing space for her clients to achieve their fitness goals. This home gym was a testament to Jennifer’s dedication and passion, featuring meticulously invested equipment essential for her personal training and martial arts sessions.

However, the fire destroyed their entire home, including the garage where Jennifer conducted her business. Along with their living space, they lost all training equipment, martial arts gear, Lu’s paintball gear, rifles, bicycles, archery equipment, and cherished collectibles. These items were vital tools for their livelihoods and passions. Additionally, Jennifer’s vast book collection, art supplies, family photos, two 200-year-old family bibles holding records of her ancestry, and irreplaceable sentimental items were lost forever.

A Family of Rescues with Heartwarming Stories

Their rescue animals are more than pets; they are beloved family members, each with their own heartwarming stories:

Mystique (11 years old): Rescued at six weeks old from abandonment, Mystique has been a steadfast companion, providing unwavering love and comfort.

Patronus (10 years old): Saved from euthanasia by Jennifer’s friend's daughter, Patronus brings immense joy and laughter to their home with his playful antics.

Nebula, their "Covid kitty": Adopted in 2020, Nebula has been a source of comfort and solace during challenging times, always ready to cuddle and purr, laying heart to heart with Jennifer and snuggling on her shoulder.

Thanos (3 years old): Rescued from a studio lot in Burbank, the last of a litter to be rescued with a rear leg disability. Even with hiss special leg, Thanos keeps up with the rest of the cats and plays the most with toys.

Hazel and Rocky (both 11 years old): Rescued to stay in the familiar home they knew, these brother and sister cats offer companionship and warmth, always ready to snuggle.

Chaz (14 years old): Rescued from a hoarding situation, Chaz is mostly blind but navigated the house flawlessly, embodying grace and perseverance.

Odin (almost 3 years old): Their Great Dane, Odin is a gentle giant who protected their chickens and continues to be a loyal guardian, always wagging his tail with joy.

Groot, Drax, Gamora, and Starlord: Four resilient chickens who have been troopers during this crisis, currently staying safely in Odin’s kennel, bringing a bit of farmyard cheer to the family.

The Day of the Fire

On the night of 01/07/2025, a wildfire swept through their Los Angeles neighborhood, rapidly engulfing their peaceful home. As the flames approached, Jennifer and Lu felt a surge of urgency to protect their family. Trusting their instincts, they quickly gathered their loved ones—both human and animal—and evacuated safely. They managed to rescue all their beloved pets, who bring so much joy and comfort to their lives. Despite their swift actions, the fire destroyed everything they owned, leaving them with only the clothes on their backs and the memories of what they lost. The loss was profound, taking away their sanctuary, cherished belongings, and the life they had built together.

Current Situation and Urgent Needs

Currently, Jennifer and Lu are staying with my husband and me, as we have opened our home to provide shelter and safety for their entire family, including their beloved animals. While we are grateful to offer this support, they still face urgent financial needs to cover supplies for themselves and their pets, as well as costs associated with securing a temporary living space.

Immediate Financial Needs:

Temporary Housing: Covering rent and utilities while they find a permanent place to live.

Essential Supplies: Providing food, clothing, and other necessities for the family and their beloved pets.

Rebuilding Livelihoods: Replacing lost work equipment and tools necessary for Jennifer’s personal training business and Lu’s hobbies.

Replacing Sentimental Items: Assisting in rebuilding their library, art supplies, and other personal belongings. This includes replacing items such as wedding memorabilia and precious jewelry from the Philippines. While family heirlooms hold immense sentimental value and cannot be replaced, your support will help Jennifer and Lu cope with these profound losses and replace other essential items needed to rebuild their lives.

Emotional Support: Helping them regain some sense of normalcy and stability during this challenging time.

Emotional Impact

This experience has been overwhelmingly emotional for Jennifer and Lu. They are holding each other together through moments of tears, frustration, and strength. The loss of irreplaceable memories, including their wedding items, precious jewelry from Lu’s mother, all their fur kids' beds, toys, and blankets that made their home feel safe and cozy, has been a tremendous burden. Facing an uncertain future and the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from the ground up has been incredibly challenging. However, their love for each other and their animals keeps them fighting for a positive future.

How You Can Help

We are seeking your support to help Jennifer and Lu rebuild their lives and secure a safe and stable living environment. Your generous donations will provide them with the necessary resources to:

Secure Temporary Housing

Replace Essential Supplies for Family & Pets

Rebuild Livelihoods and Business Equipment

Restore Sentimental and Irreplaceable Items

Provide Emotional Support and Stability

Every donation, no matter the size, brings them one step closer to recovering from this tragedy. Please consider donating and sharing this campaign to help spread the word. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in their journey toward recovery.

Personal Stories and Memories Lost

Jennifer and Lu’s home was filled with love, laughter, and countless cherished memories. From celebrating birthdays and holidays with their rescue animals to creating art and training clients in their home gym, every corner of their home held stories that are now lost. Among the irreplaceable items were Jennifer’s birthday present gi (a martial arts uniform), used just once for a training session the day before the fire, and Lu’s beloved paintball gear and rifles—gifts from his father on his 18th birthday. They also lost their wedding memorabilia, precious jewelry from Lu’s mother that was passed down through generations, and all their fur kids' beds, toys, and blankets that provided comfort and coziness to their beloved pets.

A Heartfelt Thank You

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness and generosity during this difficult time. Your support means the world to Jennifer, Lu, and their beloved family, helping them find hope and strength as they rebuild their lives.