Help Doreen After the Palisades Fire

Dear Friends,

We are writing this with heavy hearts to share that our dear friend Doreen has lost everything in the devastating Palisades fire. Like so many others in the area, the fire has taken not just her home but also a piece of her heart and history.

Doreen wasn’t home during the evacuation, though she tried to return to collect critical documents like her birth certificate and at least one extra set of clothes. Sadly, she couldn’t make it back in time. Now, she faces the daunting challenge of restarting her life from scratch.

Doreen has no family in the States and now relies on the support and strength of the community she has poured her heart into for so many years. She also didn’t have renters insurance, leaving her with no safety net to help her. As she waits to find a new job and figure out her next steps, she will be starting completely from scratch.

Doreen has been a shining light in the Palisades community for years. She first came to the area as a nanny for a local family who, heartbreakingly, also lost their home in this disaster. But Doreen quickly became so much more than a caregiver—she became part of the fabric of the community.

Known affectionately as the "Town Chef" of the Palisades, Doreen brought her passion for food and love to countless families. She catered everything from kids’ birthday parties, charcuterie boards for dinner gatherings, and holiday celebrations like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Her bone broth deliveries were a weekly highlight for many families.

For the past six years, Doreen has also volunteered at the Calvary Christian Christmas Resale Boutique, a cause close to her heart. This year, she was planning to join the boutique not just as a volunteer but also as a vendor, showcasing her charcuterie boards. Tragically, she has now lost not only her home and belongings but also all the equipment she used for her business.

In October, Doreen achieved a long-held dream when she moved into her own space at Sunset and PCH—a space she had worked so hard to make her own. That place is now gone.

Thankfully, Doreen is safe and staying with our friend Missy after enduring a harrowing 2+ hour drive to safety. But like so many others affected by these fires, she is starting over with nothing.

Just to get a sense of Doreen’s incredible heart: the first night she arrived safely at Missy’s house, they watched the news and scrolled through social media as the city burned. Missy asked if there was any update on her apartment, but Doreen barely responded—she was more worried about the businesses, other people's homes, and schools.

The very next morning, she was already trying to figure out how to get into the Palisades to check on her friends’ homes, knowing hers was already gone. She selflessly went around getting videos for people to keep them informed. And on January 9th, she went out again to help someone pack up what they could from their house. She said, “I know what it feels like now to lose everything I own. Rather than sit here and do nothing, I want to help people get what they can.”

We know the toll of these fires has been immense, and this is just one of many stories of loss. The impact on Los Angeles has been devastating, and it will be a long road to recovery. Still, we believe this is when we show up for one another.

We’re asking for your help to support Doreen during this unimaginably difficult time. Any contribution, big or small, will go directly toward helping her replace essential items and rebuild her life. If you can’t give monetarily, donations of clothing, toiletries, or other essentials would mean the world. To coordinate these types of donations, please message us through the GoFundMe page.

Doreen has always given selflessly to those around her, and now it’s our turn to give back.

Let’s show her that the community she poured so much of her heart into is here for her now.

With love, light, and gratitude,

Liz Sczudlo, Danielle Gerber, Missy & Kaley Mansour, and Jess Frank