Support Peter, Georgia and Nyah after the Eaton Fires

Help Peter Scalettar & His Daughters After the Eaton Fires

Hi friends,

I’m Rafi, and I’m here on behalf of my lifelong, childhood friend, Peter Scalettar (“Noodle” for those who know.) After the devastation of the Eaton fires in Altadena, Pete and his two wonderful daughters, Nyah (8) and Georgia (11), are in need of our help.

On the night of Tuesday Jan 7, Pete texted his neighbor Darrell: “So…when do I know if I have to evacuate?” Darrell didn’t reply. 10 minutes later, there was a loud pounding on Pete’s door. It was Darrell. “It’s time to go!”

As Pete looked to the east, he could see the flames. In this critical moment, Pete could only grab a few things: his passport, a pair of underwear and t-shirt, a few photos, a memory box and his daughters’ baby teeth.

It wasn’t until days later that Pete and his girls received the "good" news - the fire avoided his home. It is one of the few homes left standing in his neighborhood of Altadena. While you might think that’s a blessing (and he thought so at first as well), it comes with a myriad of unexpected nightmares that are continuing to unfold. The fire and smoke didn’t just decimate the homes around him— it released dangerous toxins into his house, the air and the soil. Most items inside his home are now deemed toxic but it is yet to be seen how understanding insurance companies will be for the “fortunate” few whose houses remain. Not only that, the interior of the house will have to be heavily remediated. As of now, it’s all very unclear, but according to other California fire survivors, he is likely displaced from his home for what could be upwards of 2 years. And as he’s been told by multiple people: “you’d have been better off if your house had burned down.”

On top of an already heart-wrenching situation, imagine the isolation of being one of the last houses left in a sea of destruction; a truly post-apocalyptic landscape. Pete’s neighborhood, his community—gone. While his house remains, the sense of home has been shattered. The landscape of their beloved Altadena, where they’ve built a life filled with memories, is now wreckage.

Pete is an amazing father, always putting his girls first. But this situation is overwhelming, even for someone as resilient as him. That’s why I'm reaching out. Please join me in helping Pete to get situated in his new (albeit temporary) house, and to give Nyah and Georgia more normalcy during what remains an incredibly traumatic time.

If you’re able to donate, share, or simply send good thoughts their way please do. The funds collected will solely be used to cover expenses that are not being covered by any other disaster relief aid, and anything beyond their needs will be shared with others in the Altadena community. Let’s help Peter, Nyah and Georgia navigate this difficult time. I'm hoping our village will step up to help them.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Rafi