My wonderful friend, Michelle, is one of the thousands of Altadena residents who had to quickly evacuate her home on Tuesday, January 7 just before it burned to the ground in the Eaton Fire. She literally ran out of her home with her dog and two cats, their food and medications, and the clothes she was wearing. That’s it. We are so grateful she is safe with her fur babies, but there is nothing left. Nothing. Her car was also lost in the fire because she couldn’t access it in the garage due to the preceding power outage.

I've known Michelle since 1998 when we were neighbors in our Pasadena condominium complex. I evacuated Michelle and her pets on Tuesday night.

Those of you who know Michelle know how difficult it is for her to ask for help, so I’m doing it for her, as I know she would do for any of her friends or family.

On the day of the fire, Michelle was finalizing her retirement plans with her employer and planning her return to Madison, Wisconsin where she was born and raised. Just last month she had purchased a house in Madison that’s scheduled to close on January 17, 2025. This is a 1975 ranch house in need of full renovation – Michelle’s dream project for her forever home.

Yesterday she was informed that her bridge loan to purchase this home was cancelled since her collateral burned in the fire. She’s now in danger of losing that house as well. If she’s fortunate enough to close on that house, she has NOTHING to furnish the house. She has also lost the proceeds from the sale of her Altadena home to fund the renovation.

Michelle is fortunate to have an excellent home insurance policy, but it will fall well short of what she would’ve had with the sale of her Altadena home.

Michelle needs EVERYTHING - toiletries, clothing, furniture, pet supplies, luggage, kitchen appliances, basic home goods, etc.

Any funds Michelle receives in excess of her needs she will most certainly donate to others in need.

This tragedy still doesn't feel real, even after seeing the remains of her home with our own eyes.

Any amount helps, as does sharing the GoFundMe link.

Our hearts break for all that’s been lost, not just the homes, but the beautiful Altadena community itself.