Miguel's Kindness Returns: Let's Help

A note for donation transparency:

Mr. Espinosa’s daughter Lizzie will be withdrawing the funds for him as he doesn’t have a US bank account.

April 23, 2025

This is an URGENT PLEA; the direction of this fundraiser has changed. Mr. Espinosa was targeted last month with a group of Mexican men who had lost their homes in the fires and nearly all of them were rounded up like animals at the motel they were at. Thanks to Mr. Espinosa’s niece working for a lawyer, he is no longer in custody but now he has to FIGHT in court to prove his work visa was valid and his place of employment burning down did not mean he was “refusing” to work.

We need money for a qualified immigration attorney and to get this burden off Mr. Espinosa’s back for good. He has worked and served this community and paid taxes for decades. This is UNFAIR and I am asking our whole SoCal community to band together to support Mr. Espinosa and his family.

original post:

I know there are so many of us trying to do what we can for our friends and neighbors right now, and this is me trying to do that for our friend and neighbor Miguel who evacuated just as the fire hit Wapello Street. He knew without a miracle his own home would be lost too and the next day it was confirmed- everything was lost. Miguel’s parents bought this home in the 1970s and he has never lived anywhere else.

The fire moved so fast that by the time he heard people on N. Glenrose were leaving, it was already too late to do anything other than escape with his life.

Miguel made it out with his dog, phone, and glasses. His 2018 Honda was in a shop having a repair done and the shop was also burnt to the foundation so he has no home or vehicle.

I would like to see Miguel provided with enough financial relief to take a few weeks and process this loss, figure out the plan going forward, and decide whether rebuilding will be an option.

Many of us have had one of Miguel’s kindnesses visited upon us, whether it’s handing out Dixie cups of homemade elote during the summer evenings or having your yard trimmed just because he was out doing his own. If he knows you are sick, he brings you your paper and your mail. There’s just not a more exceptional neighbor than Miguel.

He has shown up for us so often. Let’s show up for him, now.