Retired Friend lost everything Altadena Fire

Hi, my name is Zita Villareal-Jao. I work for Kaiser Permanente and live in the San Gabriel Valley.

I had the privilege of working with Yvonne Scaggs, a remarkable woman who recently lost her home in Altadena. Yvonne lived in her home for 37 years and dedicated over 34 of those years to fostering teen girls and later teen boys, who loved and cherished her. Now retired, Yvonne’s kindness and compassion have touched so many lives.

On January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire broke out in the foothills of Altadena. At first, it didn’t seem to threaten nearby homes. Yvonne and her foster son, John, noticed the flames while heading to Home Depot to buy temporary lighting during a blackout. However, as they returned home via Hill Street, they saw a long line of cars evacuating.

That’s when Yvonne decided it was best to leave.

In a rush, Yvonne and John grabbed their two dogs, some dog food, and evacuated, unintentionally leaving behind their medications and other important documents as they were thinking they will be back to their home. They took refuge at a friend’s house, unaware of how quickly the fire would spread. Tragically, the next day, Yvonne learned that her home had burned to the ground.

The Eaton Fire devastated entire neighborhoods, destroying thousands of structures and displacing over 150,000 people.

This campaign aims to provide Yvonne with supplemental resources as she navigates this incredibly challenging transition:

• Unforeseen Expenses: Helping cover costs beyond what insurance provides.

• Daily Necessities: Providing essential items like clothing, toiletries, and supplies to support her during the recovery process.

This fundraiser is not meant to replace insurance but to bridge the gaps and address immediate needs that often arise after disasters of this magnitude.

Whether you can donate or simply share this fundraiser, your support will give Yvonne the resources she needs to move forward and rebuild her life.

With gratitude,

Zita

P.S. GoFundMe applies a default “administrative fee” or “tip,” but you can adjust it by selecting “Enter custom tip” and setting it to an amount you’re comfortable with—even $0. We want to ensure that every dollar goes as far as possible to help Yvonne during this difficult time.