Help Mary Find a Stable and Safe Place to Live

Lake Shrine devotee Mary Graham was displaced by the Palisades fire. At 69 years old, her resourcefulness and integrity have kept her going, and she's done her best to make the best of things, but she needs our help to find a stable and safe place to live. All the funds collected will be deposited directly from GoFundMe into Mary's bank account.

Here is Mary's story in her own words:

Like so many other Lake Shrine devotees, my garage efficiency rental in Pacific Palisades burned down completely on January 7. My entire street and neighborhood is gone. I would have then stayed at my daughter’s rental house a mile away, but her place was damaged as well and was not habitable, and she and her husband have moved several times since.

I did not have renter’s insurance because the landlord said she had it for my unit. However, according to the L.A. Housing Authority, she was doing illegal rentals and had no insurance for me. They told me it was an illegal domicile so I couldn't file for help.

I had actually been living with my daughter and with friends here and there wherever and whenever I could for a number of months before the fire because my small apartment tested off the charts for mold, and I was waiting for my landlord to fix the problem.

I've been essentially homeless since last year. I never wanted to overstay my welcome at any one place, and I didn't want to be a burden to anyone.

I’ve tried hard to relocate these past months, but the running around, staying here and there, doing cat sits and paying short-term rents while keeping all my belongings in the car, has run me and my very limited finances down considerably.

I was confused by all the comprehensive loss to me and to my family, so I hadn’t asked for help. It’s taken me a long to process all this. I didn’t feel I could ask for assistance because my story was a bit convoluted. But here I am, not knowing what to do and where to go.

I am retired and have $800/month in Social Security and $300 in food stamps, with no other income. Stability and safety and a home base… and restoration of my mind, body, and spirit would be a miracle!

I drove solo across the U.S. (a gas credit card was gifted to me) to breathe some fresh air and do cat sit and rentals in Florida where I used to live. I want to return to California ASAP and begin again, especially to be near my daughter and SRF communities. I have been blessed that a lovely SRF chapel was here nearby in Fort Lauderdale, and monks from the Mother Center came to visit recently.

Prior to Covid, I was a full-time cook for the monks, nuns, and retreatants for four years, cooking in the Refectory inside the Encinitas Ashram. What a blessing to stand in that kitchen and make the special recipes of SRF and enjoy daily upliftment, devotions, and deeply felt interactions with long-time devotees, monks, nuns, volunteers, and visitors.

I am so inspired how God works to lay forward his plan for me and my path, lit with love and blessings. Any help to get me toward that goal on this earthly plane is appreciated. Many blessings to you.