Dear friends and family,

As many of you know, the current fires in the Pacific Palisades and across Los Angeles County have taken a devastating toll on our family, friends, and countless other people who call LA home. Born and raised in Santa Monica, it has been utterly heartbreaking to watch our beloved community and landscape be destroyed by these fires. On behalf of our mom Summer Marshall, we are asking our community for support in getting her back on her feet.

Our mother is a creative artist, teacher, designer, community member, and a giver to all. She grew up attending local schools, body-surfing with her cousins at Venice and Santa Monica Beaches, and finding her lifelong passion in art. While raising her four kids she found a job as a teacher at Palisades Preschool as the atelierista (art studio teacher) and quickly became a beloved member of their school community. She believed wholeheartedly in the philosophy of this little school and for 14 years she poured her heart and countless hours into it. Imagining creative lesson plans, and nurturing children's love of learning through art and nature, while building relationships with children and their families. Guiding and caring for children in a creative environment every day brought her so much joy. In 2020 Covid changed everything and mom made sure her students finished the year strong by teaching on Zoom. She left her teaching position to focus all her energy at home, helping the 4 of us navigate online schooling. She transitioned into creating a business for her art, something she’s always dreamed of doing. She now uses her talents in various creative endeavors designing floral arrangements for weddings, planning concerts for the Venice band, creating signage and murals for local restaurants, and interior design. She has also continued to follow her passion for working with children, by hosting private children’s art classes and parties. Our mom puts her everything into every creative project.

She and our little sister Kalli found a home at our grandmother’s small trailer by the beach. Here she found a community and a landing spot, in the tight-knit Palisades Bowl Mobile Home Park. On January 7th, the entire Bowl lost their homes to the Palisades fire. This is one of the oldest and only communities in the area that offers affordable, rent-controlled housing options for low-income families and seniors. Although less than 500 sq feet, our Grandmother’s trailer has always felt like home to all of us. We were raised going to Grandma Virgie’s seaside trailer for hikes, beach days, sleepovers, swimming, gardening, and baking. Our grandmother’s home was small but mighty, quaint but comfortable and cozy, humble and yet full of treasures like sea glass, Catalina pottery and our great grandma’s paintings. It has always been open to anyone who needed a place to land, and most recently that was our mother, Summer, and our little sister Kalli, who after losing our childhood rental home of 20 years to gentrification, had no place to go. The community here was unique, close-knit, and welcoming. Our mom quickly wove herself into the fabric and culture of the place, hiking the local trails, befriending neighbors, children, pets, and appreciating each sunset from the Park’s bluff.

In their swift evacuation, they were only able to grab a few necessities and documents, losing everything she and Kalli had there. Our grandmother’s and mother’s cherished family heirlooms, treasures, art, and the special trinkets that filled her tiny home and our sister’s belongings too. Among the things lost to the fire was Summer’s extensive collection of art supplies, many of which had been passed down from her late father. These supplies allowed our mother to build her business up after COVID-19, and she was excited about new opportunities on the horizon. Summer wants nothing more than to be able to work to provide for Kalli and do the work that she is passionate about and so skilled at. She is looking forward to providing art instruction for local children and families again. She believes in art as one of children’s best and most therapeutic means of expression, a way to process and portray emotion, create beauty, and experience joy and wonder. These will be the types of experiences so many children need and will thrive in after experiencing the trauma and stress of recent events. Our mom is still a giver to all and desires to use her talents to serve her community.

We know that as much as she gives to anyone in need she struggles with asking for help. But we are asking for your help to allow her to rebuild her life. We are thankful that everyone got out with their lives though it was traumatic and dangerous for many. Any support is much appreciated. The kindness and compassion we have always found in the Palisades community will make all the difference in this difficult time. Your donations will go towards immediate necessities like clothing, toiletries, and temporary housing as well as searching for permanent housing, counseling, and business supplies lost.

In a time of so much uncertainty, we are thankful for the love and support of our friends, family, and community. Our hearts go out to the countless other families who lost their homes and loved ones in these fires. Thank you all!