Rebuilding Katriina's Life from the Ashes

Longtime Lake Shrine devotee Katriina Huotari (Jacobson) lost her small apartment and all her possessions in the Palisades fire. All the funds collected will be deposited directly from GoFundMe into Katriina's bank account to help cover needs not met by other sources of aid.

Here is Katriina's story in her own words:

Tuesday, January 7, was my day off from work in the sacred meditation gardens at Lake Shrine, where I had been caring for the visitor center and temple bookroom for 18 years. My home was situated just one minute from Lake Shrine.

When the evacuation order came, I opened my door to see black clouds of smoke floating over the house. Immediately, I grabbed the most important things: my purse, my passport, a miniature wooden statue of Yogananda, handmade by one of the Lake Shrine monastics, and my special picture of the Divine Mother.

I was informed that I might not be able to escape in my car, as Sunset Boulevard was turning into a standstill parking lot, and I might have to run on foot toward the beach. I took a leap of faith and inched my car to safety, praying continuously.

Since that day, I have found refuge in temporary places, but the weight of loss is heavy. Like so many others, I lost everything except my toothbrush, the clothes on my back, and the special mementos that have given me comfort over many years.

Just like Sunset Boulevard, my life is at a standstill. I don’t have the financial wherewithal to make any meaningful progress toward rebuilding my life. I am profoundly grateful for any assistance you can offer.

What truly matters is that Lake Shrine miraculously survived, and we will continue to change people’s lives for years and years to come!