Help Miki and Her Cats Rebuild After Wildfire Damage

Miki Wong is a jewelry maker in Pasadena that has been displaced from her home due to the wild fires. While currently safe, her bungalow home has been severely damaged by smoke/soot and is unlivable.

She's found temporary shelter in Orange County with a friend, but she needs to move out next week and find a more stable housing situation for herself. Although they have applied for FEMA and additional aid, the assistance will not cover all the damage to their apartment and lost income.

Can you help them recover? No contribution is too small, and if you aren't in a position to donate, sharing this page with your networks would be just as helpful and appreciated.

All funds raised will go directly to Miki and support her in any unmet needs not covered by other disaster relief aid.

They're immensely grateful for the help they’ve already received from friends and family. Please join us in helping Miki in an overwhelming time of need -- let’s show them that they are not alone and will get through this with the kindness and strength of friends, family, and complete strangers!

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Hi, my name is Miki. I never thought I’d find myself creating a GoFundMe in a time of crisis, but this past week has been a waking nightmare for me and my community. On Tuesday night, the Eaton Fire erupted just a mile from my home. My friend called me in a panic, urging me to evacuate immediately. When I stepped outside and saw the mountain on fire, I knew I had to leave right away. I packed up my cats, some documents, and nothing else.

By the time we reached the highway, the entire side of the mountain was engulfed in flames. The next 24 hours were agonizing as I waited for news about my home. When I found out that it hadn’t burned, I was elated—“I can go home!” But when I returned on Friday, I discovered my home was filled with soot and ash. The air quality inside made it impossible for me to stay. Even wearing a P100 respirator triggered wheezing and shortness of breath due to my asthma as soon as I stepped into the house.

The relief I felt quickly turned into immense grief. Although the structure is still standing, everything inside is contaminated, including my home studio, which was the heart of my new jewelry business. My recording equipment, jewelry tools, and inventory are all unusable. Most of my belongings are covered in toxic soot and ash, and I can’t safely clean or handle them due to my medical condition.

I’ve salvaged what little I could, but now I face the overwhelming challenge of replacing nearly all my belongings, professionally cleaning items I can’t handle myself, and finding safe, temporary housing for myself and my three cats. All funds raised will go directly toward unmet needs not covered by disaster relief aid. This includes replacing essentials, cleaning and storage costs, and securing a safe place to live while I look for permanent housing.

Any amount you can contribute would mean the world to me as I begin to rebuild my life. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any help you’re able to provide.