Helping the Bains in the Aftermath of the Wildfires!

My name is Rebecca Kim, and I work with Mike at Perspectives USA. Like me, you probably watched with horror as the wildfires in LA brought mind blowing destruction throughout California.

Here's an update from Mike:

Since January, our family has been living in a prolonged state of crisis following the Eaton Fire. What initially seemed like a temporary evacuation turned into something much more devastating. Though the flames never reached our home, the fire left behind intense smoke and ash damage—along with serious, invisible environmental contamination.

We’ve been living in a hotel ever since, trying to juggle full-time work while navigating the overwhelming process of insurance claims, contractor visits, remediation planning, and ongoing uncertainty. Multiple cleaning specialists have assessed the property, and each visit revealed more bad news. Comprehensive testing ultimately confirmed what we feared: our home is contaminated with extremely high levels of lead from the wildfire smoke.

As a result, over 90% of our possessions—clothing, fabric furniture, rugs, electronics, plastics, and kitchenware—must be destroyed. These items cannot be safely decontaminated. We’re left with only a few pieces of furniture and some irreplaceable sentimental items. We escaped the threat of fire—only to lose nearly everything, months later.

While we are thankful to have insurance, it doesn’t come close to covering the full extent of our loss. The cost of replacing essentials, safely disposing of toxic belongings, cleaning what little can be saved, and relocating is far beyond what we can manage alone.

We’re asking for help—however big or small—to bridge the gap and get our family back on our feet. Every gift, prayer, and share makes a difference.

With love and gratitude,

Mike & Lesley Bain