Help Mariya Gyendina and Jon Rebuild After Palisades Fire

Mariya Gyendina, our Libraries colleague, and her partner Jon lost their apartment and all of their belongings in the 2025 Palisades Fire in California. Mariya is the Assessment Librarian for the University of Minnesota Libraries and relocated to California several years ago to help support her in-laws.

She & Jon (and their cat) were evacuated on Tuesday, January 7 to a hotel, and found out that evening that Jon's parents' home of 40 years had been lost in the fire. On Thursday, January 9, Mariya learned that the home she lived in with Jon was also destroyed.

Please consider a donation to Mariya and Jon to help them rebuild their lives after this tragedy. Funds raised by our Libraries community will go directly to Mariya's account to assist with immediate needs and expenses like housing, clothing, & food.

UPDATE:

Thank you to everyone who donated to this fundraiser for Mariya & Jon. Your support was incredibly helpful to them and much appreciated as it enabled them to get on their feet again and cover the gap in their insurance.