Eighteen months later — where we are, and what your money did.

First: thank you. 191 of you gave $20,959, and I have thought about that on a lot of hard days.

Your $20,959 is earmarked for replanting trees and a shed — once there's a house to put them next to.

Here's where we are:

$540,000 insurance payout for the rebuild.

$256,158 spent on:

• secondary debris removal

• removal of 5 dead trees, including a mature oak, and disposal

• architectural and structural design plans for a house I couldn't afford to build (which is why we switched to prefab)

• permits

• soils reports

• engineering

• first payments to Villa Homes on the prefab contract

• medical bills after John was disabled getting us out during the fire evacuation

• a small loan to someone who had no renters insurance, which I don't regret and won't be seeing again

The remaining $251,000 is in holding for the build and our builder needs $331,000.

FEMA denied me because I carried homeowner's insurance even though there would be no duplication of benefits.

What's left — $129,000 to go, and I've raised the goal to match:

• $89,000 owed to our builder to finish the house

• $20,000 for solar with battery backup — my daughter and I both live with Type 1 diabetes, and insulin has to stay cold when the grid goes down

• $20,000 for replanting and a shed — already covered by what you've given

We have a claim pending against Edison. Nobody knows what it will bring or when, but our builder needs paying now.

If you can give again, you know exactly where it goes.

And I'm hoping all of us can find businesses to donate and help us reach the goal! So please forward this to just one company or person :)

Thank you for staying with us.

Jennie Marie (Mahalick) Petrini

Altadena, CA

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My children and I lost our home in Altadena’s Eaton Fire on 1/8/2025. We got out with the clothes on our backs and the dogs, cat, and guinea pigs.

My daughter and I both live with Type 1 diabetes so we avoid death daily - fore isn’t taking us down either.

Originally I was asking for money for socks, food, insulin, everything! But I have a contractor and insurance will only cover part of the rebuild. Anything will help and I appreciate your support.

Love you all!

Jennie Marie (Mahalick) Petrini

Altadena, CA

grew up in Edgewood, NM

Unemployed fundraising operations director

Our home before: