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Hello, my name is Eric Barrientos. Some of my friends call me by my nickname "Juice." I'm an electrical engineering student at Cal Poly Pomona, and this March will be my 2-year anniversary interning at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where I have been living what feels like a dream in the pursuit of contributing to the goal of furthering our knowledge and exploration of the stars.
I moved into an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) at the beginning of last year in Altadena, on Lake Avenue, north of E. Altadena Drive. February was to mark the one-year anniversary of moving into the location. I moved all of my personal possessions into the unit, believing this was the first step toward living independently and gaining my dream job.
The Eaton Fire began the evening of January 7th. Upon receiving the news, I packed my most important belongings and a gym bag with some clothes and personal care items, hoping I would be returning in a few days to my home. By the time I reached the freeway, Lake Ave. appeared to already be blocked off by emergency response personnel. Had I waited any longer, I may have also lost my car to the fire, which I had recently purchased.
While I was fortunate enough to evacuate the area quickly and find shelter with my family in Rancho Cucamonga, in 12 hours I received news that my landlady's home had burned to the ground, along with the ADU and all of my possessions. Beyond the loss of my home, I also lost many of my personal belongings; this includes things like my bike and skateboard that I relied on for transportation at school, my car maintenance tools and musical instruments, as well as all of my electrical engineering equipment that has been essential for work and education. Everything from my bed to my desk to my kitchen supplies is gone, leaving me to start over from scratch.
I never would have imagined that my year would begin in a situation like this, and asking for help is not something that comes easily to me. I've always done my best to be the helper in the lives of my family and friends. However, the financial burden of rebuilding is going to be much harder than I can manage on my own.
I've set a goal of $13,000 to cover the goals of:
- Securing housing near JPL: So that I can continue to focus on my internship and studies without the strain of a long commute from Rancho Cucamonga.
- Replacing Essential Tools: which are critical for completing my degree and furthering my education in the hopes of contributing to more projects at JPL.
- Rebuilding Daily Life: The rest of the funds will go toward replacing basic furniture and items that will make a living space functional, as well as the personal items that contribute to my well-being.
- Financial Assistance Interim: Funds will also assist me interim with food, gas, and other expenses while I regain my footing.
Any amount you can give would be a HUGE help to getting my life back on track, and I am infinitely grateful for all of your well-wishes, support, and assistance both financially and emotionally.
Thank you all,
Eric
Organizer
