Rebuild Melissa's Home and Hope After Fire

When Melissa’s son Nicholas texted her on the evening of January 7th to tell her that there was a fire in Eaton Canyon and that she should leave just to be safe, she never could have imagined what would happen in the next 24 hours. Thinking she would be home the next day, she and her youngest son Matthew—who just turned 13 three days before—grabbed very little as they left Altadena to stay in Culver City. The next morning, she learned the devastating news that her house was gone—one of only four houses on the block that burned down. Among the countless mementos and family photos that were lost in the fire were her beloved sister’s ashes, who left the house to Melissa and her children after passing away from breast cancer.

A single mother of 3 sons, Melissa raised her boys in the beautiful La Vina community in Altadena. She has worked as a paralegal for 25 years to support her family. In 2023, she spent 5 months in the hospital due to health issues, which left her partially disabled. Shortly after, she was let go from the law firm she had worked for for over 20 years. This past November, after spending most of the year recovering from her illness, she was able to get back on her feet and found a new job. Now, just a few months later, her world has come crashing down again.

We humbly ask for donations to help Melissa rebuild her and her son Matthew’s lives. Anything helps, and we want to express our unwavering gratitude to anyone who donates.

Donations would be used to immediately replace clothing lost in fire and to find a new home for Melissa and Matthew.