Big or small, go make a difference.

I want you to take a moment to walk through a scenario in your head.

You leave for work and when you return home, it's not there. You aren't even allowed to drive your street to see it. Every single neighbor has lost their home. Your grocery store, schools, library, rec center, favorite local stores, all gone. All you have are the clothes on your back and the bag you took to work. What do you do first?

You need to find somewhere to sleep. You need to figure out how to feed your family. You need to find more clothes, underwear, socks, toothbrush, the essentials. But now let's think long term - you will need to contact insurance, your service providers, figure out how to clean up, write down every item you ever owned in order to claim it, find a new school for your kids, find long-term temporary housing until your home can be rebuilt, which could take 2, 3, 4, 5 years, maybe even longer. And then rebuild the inside of the home - new plates, spoons, spatula, fans, bed, couch, sheets, pillows, rugs, the list goes on and on. How do you start over while still having to live your life?

I know all too well what this feels like and my fire was not even remotely the magnitude of what those in Los Angeles have suffered over the last few weeks. The fear, the panic, the grief, the new sense of bonding as a community. There is so much to process all at once.

We need to help them. Big or small, any penny counts. There are thousands of GoFundMes. I cannot even begin to tell you how expensive it is to go through a fire. The expenses don't stop year after year as you continue to replace what was lost. Anything you can give will truly help and also remind them that they are not alone.

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There is suffering all over the world - war, hunger, Mother Nature - it constantly overwhelming. It is so easy to turn your eye the other way because it is so much to witness. How do we continue on with our lives as we watch such hardship? How can our small pennies of offering make a difference?

It is our human duty to be there for one another, to witness what each and every one of us goes through and to support one another through the good and the bad. We will all go through hardship in our lives in some capacity, we will all lose someone or something in our lives and our sense of safety will become shaken. How can you support those in need? Financially? Volunteer your time? Donate items? Be in community and hold space for those who need to grieve? Share their stories? However you can contribute, big or small, go and make a difference beyond what you provide for you and your family. Let's remind the world that compassion still exists and will always win. ​

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This month, 20% of our proceeds will be contributed to Pasadena Community Foundation.

Pasadena Community Foundation has been serving the communities of Altadena and Pasadena for over 70 years.  As an umbrella organization, they have worked closely with both civic and nonprofit leaders during good times and bad to meet the changing needs.


In response to the devastating Eaton Fire, PCF’s Board has approved an initial $100,000 grant to launch the Eaton Fire Relief and Recovery Fund. As of January 17, 2025 , the Foundation has raised more than $4 million from more than 1,500 generous donors, but their community’s needs are immense and will be ongoing for months into years.


They are committed to deploying these funds as swiftly and effectively as possible to address urgent short-term needs. Their immediate priorities are supporting those directly impacted by the fires, including individuals displaced due to home loss, evacuation, or job loss—many experiencing more than one. They are actively working with trusted nonprofit partners providing essential services such as food, shelter, emergency childcare, and medical care.


At the same time, they know that new challenges will arise for survivors as days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months. PCF will engage with civic and nonprofit leaders to develop strategies for longer-term response and priorities.  These will include addressing housing and mental health services. They will also assist in unlocking government resources to preserve the diversity and beauty of Altadena, to ensure that generational Black and Latino families can rebuild their home and their lives, that the creative and artistic community can thrive, and that small businesses can reopen.


Please know that every donation and every act of encouragement strengthens their ability to make a positive impact in the wake of this terrible fire.


To learn more about this incredible organization, please visit their website: https://pasadenacf.org/

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