Dear friends far and wide,

I’m reaching out to ask for your help and support for my dear friend Nic, her husband Mike, and their three beautiful children—Zea, Mali, and Mischa. Last week, the devastating Eaton fires swept through their California community, destroying entire neighborhoods. While their home was miraculously spared, positioned on the border of Altadena, the fires forced them to evacuate due to their proximity, the relentless winds, and the overwhelming danger posed by the blaze.

Adding to their heartbreak, their closest friends—who are also friends of ours and live only a few blocks away—lost their home entirely. Both families have been living together at a campsite near the beach, seeking refuge from the toxic and dangerous aftermath left behind by these unprecedented urban fires.

Despite their own challenges, Nic immediately swung into action, setting up a GoFundMe for their friends who lost everything. However, as she focused on helping others, she couldn’t have anticipated the immense challenges her own family would face upon their return home.

Although the structure of their house is intact, urban fires like these release toxins into the air, leaving behind significant smoke damage and hazardous conditions that make homes unsafe to inhabit. Research shows that toxic particles from fires can settle into walls, furniture, carpets, and even clothing, posing long-term serious health risks, particularly for children.

To make their home safe again, extensive cleaning and removal of furnishings that are unsafe to use or be adequately cleaned is required. This includes:

- Deep cleaning to remove soot and toxins from every surface.

- Replacing contaminated items.

- Installing new windows and ventilation systems to improve air quality. Replacing the windows has been advised because many of the existing ones cannot effectively prevent smoke and toxins from entering the home. As the cleanup of surrounding debris continues over the coming years, preventing harmful toxins and particulate matter from re-entering their home is essential for safeguarding their family’s health in the long term.

On top of these challenges, Nic’s home-based business is currently unsafe to operate, and their children’s school was destroyed in the fires, further disrupting their lives. Nic and Mike imagined being able to make their home a hub for supporting others in need, but now they are deeply concerned about protecting their own family from the toxins while finding ways to help others recover.

How Your Support Can Help

Funds raised will go toward:

- Professional cleaning and remediation to make their home safe for their family.

- Replacing essential furnishings and household items.

- Covering temporary living expenses while the home is being restored.

- Supporting their family’s physical and emotional recovery during this stressful time.

Every dollar raised will help ease the burden on Nic, Mike, and their children, allowing them to focus on rebuilding their lives and creating a safe space not only for themselves but also for others in need.

This family has shared their home with our family and mutual friends whom they always treat like an extension of their own family. I can't imagine having to live amidst what feels like a war zone, queuing up for filtered water, having the military guarding your streets from looters, while knowing your home, that typically provides a sense of comfort, is now something to fear. Now, they need us. Let’s come together to lift them up and help them and their children get through this incredibly traumatic and devastating time so that their children and their friends can safely inhabit this home and find a sense of comfort in the confronting, changed landscape of their world.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and blessings.