"Lost Everything, But Not Hope: Supporting Auntie Karen Dean"

by R. Dean, Niece of Auntie Karen Dean

My name is R. Dean, and I am reaching out to you today with a heavy heart to share the heartbreaking story of my beloved Auntie Karen, who lost her home and all of her belongings in the devastating Eaton Fire that ravaged Altadena, California. Auntie Karen lived at 2964 N. Marengo Avenue, a house she called home for many years, until that fateful night on January 7th, 2025.

At 10 p.m., she received the mandatory evacuation notice, and within moments, she was forced to leave behind everything except a few changes of clothes. What followed was a scene of absolute devastation—her home, like so many others, was reduced to rubble as the fire swept through the area. The scale of the destruction is overwhelming, with nearly 1,000 homes lost and thousands of families affected by this tragedy.

As her niece, my heart aches knowing that Auntie Karen, along with many others, is now faced with the challenge of picking up the pieces of her life. In the midst of this crisis, I am humbly asking for your support to help her begin to revive and recover to a normal state from this unimaginable loss.

Though Auntie Karen is grateful for her safety, she now faces the daunting task of gaining her life from scratch again. The devastation is overwhelming, and the road ahead will be long. This is where your generosity can make all the difference. Every donation, no matter the amount, will help provide her with the resources she needs to revive and recover to a normal state of mind and with life.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. Your kindness and support bring hope during one of the darkest times in our family's life.