This picture shows what remains of my friend Felix's entire possessions. It's all he was able to get out of his house earlier this week before he had to evacuate. Soon after, flames engulfed his entire home and burned it to the ground, along with more than 1,000 homes in his community.

His son's house, which is located not far from Felix's house, was thankfully spared from the fire but is still inaccessible. For the time being, all of them are staying with me.

During his time with us, we have had many conversations with Felix about the family treasures he lost in the fire, what the future holds for him, and how he can rebuild his life. The conversations have run the gamut of emotions, ranging from gratitude for what was spared (lives!) to sadness regarding the devastation, loss, and disbelief

As an immigrant from Poland who escaped the horrors of World War II with his family, Felix came to this country with only a few possessions, similar to what he has now. Although we can't recover the family treasures that he lost in the fire (such as a framed family tree dating back to the 1600s), I would greatly appreciate any support you can provide to help him transition into the next chapter of his life.