Support the Chavez Family After LA Fires

Dear friends, family, and compassionate supporters,

My name is Tasheena Medina Chavez, and I am a proud wife, mother, and long-time resident of Los Angeles, originally born in Arizona. For the past 14 years, LA has been my home—a place where my husband Julian and I have built our lives, welcomed our baby boy, and cared for my mom Patricia and our two beloved cats, Khapri and Sun.

What was meant to be a week of celebration for Baby J’s first birthday turned into a week of heartbreak and survival as the LA fires spread rapidly through our area. Forced to evacuate our home in Pasadena, we left with little more than the clothes on our backs. While we are beyond grateful to have escaped safely, the experience has been overwhelming and filled with uncertainty.

We are currently staying with family in Lancaster, who have graciously opened their home to us. Their kindness has brought us comfort during this difficult time, and we were even able to create a small birthday celebration for Baby J—a precious moment of normalcy amidst the chaos. However, the challenges of displacement and the uncertainty of returning home have weighed heavily on us.

Many of you have asked how you can help, so we’ve created this GoFundMe to provide transparency and clarity about how donations will be used to support our family.

How the Funds Will Be Used

Your donations will go directly toward meeting our immediate needs during displacement and addressing critical challenges when we are able to return home. Below is a breakdown of how the funds will be spent:

Immediate Needs During Displacement

Baby formula (Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease): $200

Baby cups and food: $170

Baby books: $75 (Baby J LOVES books and doesn’t have any with him right now.)

Paper towels: $25

Food for our family: $600

Basic clothing (long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, sweats, jackets): $250 (We weren’t prepared for the cold weather in Lancaster.)

Cat food, treats, and litter: $125

Subtotal (Immediate Needs): $1,445

Needs for Returning Home

Duct tape: $30 (To seal windows and doors in our older building to protect against smoke and ash.)

Air purifiers: $900 (Essential for healthy air quality for Baby J and my mom, who has health concerns.)

Water: $75 (Safe drinking and household water while under a water safety notice.)

Cleaning supplies: $125 (To clean smoke and ash residue inside the apartment.)

Food replacement: $600 (To restock all perishables lost during the power outage and displacement.)

Subtotal (Return Home Needs): $1,730

Our Total Goal: $3,500

This amount ensures that we can meet our family’s immediate needs, prepare our home for safe living conditions, and account for any unexpected expenses during this recovery period.

Why We’re Asking for Your Support

The fires have devastated our community, leaving entire neighborhoods and businesses completely destroyed. While we are grateful that our home is still standing, the challenges we face in returning safely are significant.

As the mom and wife of our household, my priority is ensuring Baby J, Julian, my mom Patricia, and our cats Khapri and Sun are safe, cared for, and able to rebuild a sense of normalcy. Your generosity will provide the stability we need to navigate this difficult time.

We also plan to give back once we are resettled by donating supplies and volunteering to support others in need.

Stay Updated

We will be sharing updates on our journey to recovery on Instagram at @thechaveztribe. Follow along to see how your support is making a difference and to stay connected with us during this time.

Our Gratitude

We cannot thank you enough for your love, kindness, and support during this challenging time. Your generosity has reminded us of the power of community and the resilience of the human spirit.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of our journey to recovery.

With love,

Tasheena, Julian, Baby J, Patricia, Khapri, and Sun

(The Chavez Family)