Sarah & Val's Journey to Recovery

My name is Anna Treece, and I am raising money to help my life-long friend Sarah Mitchell and her partner Valerio Chiarotti begin to rebuild after the devastating loss of their home in the California wildfires. Sarah and I met in college at Bucknell University in 2001 and were immediate best friends. While we live on different coasts, we have remained friends over the last few decades.

Sarah and Valerio were unexpectedly evacuated with very little warning late on the evening of January 7th and, as a result, took few possessions with them. They felt lucky to have a place to go to with their two dogs, and returned the following day to try to take additional pieces of their life with them. However, they were denied entry by protective police forces. At that point, the fires were already starting to consume part of their home. While firefighters devoted several bouts of valiant efforts to save the house, the fire persisted. Within twenty-four hours, they transitioned from the hope that the structure would be saved to a hope of several rooms being preserved to receiving notice that they had lost absolutely all of their possessions in life. Valerio lost letters from his late mother and a medal knighting his father. Sarah wishes she had taken the urn of a beloved dog. These are just a small handful to exemplify the life lost.

Their family and friends are so very grateful that they are safe, but they are devastated that their home is gone. They were building a life and a wine import business together, and this home was their first as a couple.

Like so many, we are asking for help for them as they begin to piece together what life looks like post-fire as they struggle to keep a business running, prioritize what they need, take care of their mental health and look to find a new temporary housing situation.

All of these funds will go directly to Sarah and Val to rebuild a new life.