
Support Deanna Polk: A Lifetime of Service
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For over 45 years, Deanna Polk has served her country and community with unshakable dedication as a registered nurse, a disaster responder, a public health advocate, and a volunteer on nuclear safety issues. She’s been on the front lines of medical crises across the country, and also been instrumental in the successful effort to shut down the defective San Onofre nuclear power plant, where 3.6 million pounds of radioactive waste is still buried only 100 feet the Pacific Ocean.
Deanna is featured in the documentary S.O.S. The San Onofre Syndrome and holds a Master of Science in Homeland Security. Her work on community resilience was presented at the first Public Health Security Conference by an advisor to President Obama. She also completed coursework for a second graduate degree in Global Emergency Preparedness.
However, none of that protected her from the personal toll of a life spent in service.
After caring for her dying mother, Deanna’s savings were depleted. Then, despite San Diego's renter protections, she was evicted from her longtime home. She currently lives in a remote, rugged area in a simple cabin with no hot water or indoor plumbing. She is recovering from back injuries, struggling with chronic pain, and without stable access to healthcare, transportation, or community. Yet through it all, she continues to volunteer with the Samuel Lawrence Foundation, advocating for public safety in the face of nuclear hazards.
This GoFundMe campaign was created to offer Deanna some immediate, temporary relief and help with urgent health care, food, glasses, vehicle repairs, and other essentials as she works to stabilize her life.
This is more than a request for help. It’s a chance to support someone who has never stopped showing up for others, even when the system failed her.
Please consider giving what you can to honor Deanna’s lifetime of service. She would be deeply grateful for your support.
Organizer

Samuel Lawrence Foundation
Organizer
Hilo, HI