The evening the Eaton Fire broke out in LA, our sister Gwen and her husband Mark made the decision to leave their Altadena home with their twins and 2 cats in advance of a mandatory evacuation order. They packed up only the essentials: passports, a few electronics, and a couple days of clothing and medications. They thought they’d be back within a day or two when the danger passed.

The next morning their home and everything in it—everything they worked for and everything they loved—was gone. It burned to the ground in a matter of hours. Along with it, nearly every other house in their neighborhood, their children’s school, and many of the small businesses they frequented.

For 10 years, our sister’s family called Altadena their home. They moved in when their twins, Ben and Lola, were just two years old, and over the years, they made their house a home and embedded themselves into the community. Ben joined the Cub Scouts and played Little League. Lola took dance and piano lessons. Gwen and Mark frequented social gatherings with their neighbors and hosted playdates. During the pandemic, they created a pod with neighborhood families and turned their garage into a school room. Altadena was home.

We are grateful to all the people who have reached out since the fire to offer their support to our sister and her family.

Here’s How You Can Help: Any donation you make here, no matter how big or small, will make a difference in helping them navigate the immediate aftermath of the fire and the tenuous transition period that will follow. As they have lost nearly everything, this is the best way for them to get what they need, when they need it. Thanks to everyone who has already donated!

With heartfelt thanks and gratitude,

Emily and Liz

Here is an article from the LA Times that perfectly describes the eclectic and close-knit community that is Altadena:

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-11/eaton-fire-destroys-much-of-old-altadena-an-eclectic-foothill-enclave