Please help Joyce & Michael after the Eaton Fire

How to find the words for something we all think will never happen to us. I never thought I’d have to write something like this, but here we are along with so many others.

The Eaton Fire has completely destroyed my hometown of Altadena in a matter of hours. My family childhood home… is gone. Thankfully my mom, Joyce Neuman and her partner, Michael Jeffries got out ok and they are safe. But I cannot imagine the shock, confusion, terror, grief and pain they are currently facing.

I’m facing it from across the world safe in my home. I am grieving a pain I didn’t know possible, and I’m not even there.

Our home… it wasn’t just the place where I grew up…my dad hand crafted half of the house, my grandmother- who was Grandma to everyone she met helped raise us all till she passed in that house…passing the title on to my mom who became the Grandma to all.

6 of us kids were raised, my 2 nephews and 2 nieces spent most of their childhood in and dozens of other children through the years were looked after there… it was a hub of safety and love. Everyone was welcome at our house, they were taken in and cared for treated like family from the first time passing through that front door. Our house was where all of our friends could come over and be themselves, feel safe and know someone would love them. The lives that have been touched and memories created in what is now a pile of dust are beyond measure. The brick front porch steps where we took so many family photos and a chimney stack where many a Christmas’ were spent cosying up to are all that’s left.

I know it’s all things… but the photos where memories lie forgotten, the height markings of all the kids and grandkids, great grandkids, great-great grandkids, the handmade family treasures… it’s all gone and cannot be replaced.

So where does one start? How do you pick up the pieces to start over when there are no pieces. My heart is breaking for my own family but also all the friends and neighbours sharing this pain.

I know times are tough for many, everyone’s spent from the holidays. But if you can afford to help I know my family would greatly appreciate it. Anything to help my mom start from scratch after such a devastating loss.

They have the clothes on their back and a few important documents were all they were able to take with them.

The funds raised here will help my mom and her partner to start over…. Paying for clothes, toiletries, food, bills, and possibly an RV for a temporary place to live until they can get back on their feet again.