Help Jessica Rebuild After Fire Loss

As many of you have already heard by now, Los Angeles is experiencing the worst fire in its history. The Palisades fire has already consumed over 17,000 acres and is zero percent contained as of the writing of this letter. Within those 17,000 acres, hundreds of homes and businesses have been destroyed, whole livelihoods up in flames. The school I used to teach at in the Pacific Palisades, Westside Waldorf School, was burning as of Tuesday night and is most likely completely destroyed. My close friend and a current teacher at the school, Jessica Breakey, had to evacuate the students mid-day on Tuesday. Thankfully, everyone was evacuated to safety.

Woefully, she was unable to return to her apartment in The Bluffs to gather anything. She got out with the clothes on her back. She has recently found out that it too has been destroyed. Some of you may know Jessica, or you may have heard of my dear friend through stories that I have told about our adventures together. Jess and I met in 2010 when I joined the teaching staff at Westside Waldorf and have been close friends ever since. Jessica visits me every summer in Maine where I now have my home. You may already know that this is not the first time Jessica has experienced a complete and total loss due to fire. In 2018, the Malibu Camp fire destroyed the home she was living in. She had to rebuild her life from scratch then and she is forced to face this unimaginable task once more. However, in this case, Jessica has lost all of her worldly possessions as well as losing the school where she has worked for the last 17 years. At this point, the future of the school is uncertain.

Jessica is one of the kindest, gentlest, most caring people I know. She is an incredible educator who has devoted her life to Waldorf education. She is no doubt one of thousands of individuals deeply impacted by these horrendous fires. I am sharing this with you today to ask you, my friends, family, and community to help me to help Jess. Here is something tangible you can do to help at least one person in inching towards rebuilding their lives. Please donate what you can. This money will go a long way in helping her secure housing, purchase necessary items, like food, clothing and home goods. If there is another way you’d like to help, please do not hesitate to reach out to me by phone or email.

Please keep Jessica and all those impacted by the LA fires in your thoughts and heart.

With loving gratitude,

Leda Eggold