Rebuild the Heart of the Collins Family

My name is Rondell Collins, and I am creating this GoFundMe for my grandparents, Lorell and Susie Collins.

They lost their home and nearly all of their cherished memories in the Eaton Fire after living there for 40 years. That house in Altadena wasn’t just a home—it was the heart of our family. It’s where we gathered for holidays, celebrated milestones, and watched football games together.

My grandparents are incredible people—strong, kind, and deeply rooted in this community. But they are far past the age of starting over. Our family has deep ties to the foothills of Altadena, Pasadena, Monrovia, and Duarte. My great-grandparents came here in the 1930s to escape the Jim Crow South, and we’ve been a part of this community ever since. Losing this home is devastating, and we are determined to hold onto our connection to this place and to prevent it from being replaced by corporate structures or apartment complexes. That’s not what Altadena is about.

We’re reaching out for help with heavy hearts. Any support, big or small, means the world to us. And if you’re able, we ask that you also support others who have lost everything in this tragedy. From the bottom of our hearts, my family and I thank you for your kindness and generosity.



Left: My great-grandma (my grandpa’s mom), Aunt Nicole, and my cousin.

Right: My grandpa holding my cousin as a baby.