Joyce Plath is a dear friend I met at the women's march in Washington D.C. in 2017. She has spent over 50 years in Arcata, always stepping up to help friends, family, and neighbors whenever she can. Joyce is not only a local artist and architect, but also someone who has traveled the world to offer her support to people in need. Her generosity and kindness have touched countless lives, both near and far. An example of her generosity and commitment to serving her community is her recent fundraiser where she organized local artists to sell their art and donate the proceeds to the victims of the recent fire on the Arcata Plaza. Joyce is truly an exceptional human being.

Recently, Joyce's family homestead was vandalized and many of her essential belongings were stolen. With having a home off-grid, Joyce relies on her solar system for power, and now she is left without reliable electricity. The loss of her tools, on-demand water heaters, and the damage to her windows have made her home unsafe. Despite these challenges, Joyce remains resilient, but she needs our help to recover and rebuild. The home is completely sustainably built from eco-friendly, natural materials that do not disrupt the surrounding environment. While it can be hard to access in the winter due to heavy snow, it has been a beautiful place to gather and host in the summer months.

The home Joyce built is more than just a place to live, it's a retreat she created for friends, family, and community members to gather, de-stress, and reconnect. Joyce has opened its doors to many over the years. I was lucky enough to visit this past summer after not being able to make it out there since 2020, and it truly is a wonderful place.

Now, it's our turn to give back to her. Any support you can offer will help Joyce replace her solar system, restore her home, and regain her sense of security. Thank you for standing with Joyce in her time of need just as she has done and will continue to do for those in need as well.