Support Julie & Wouter with Palisades Wildfire Recovery

Our parents, Julie and Wouter van Herwerden, moved into their Palisades home at 16018 Temecula Street 32 years ago. Freshly emigrated from the UK, we were a young family, growing together and building a community in this home. Sadly, like so many, it succumbed to the tragic wildfires in Los Angeles yesterday.

Our parents have very fortunately existed in the Palisades for many years. This was only by the good graces of a landlord who recognized something in them: a kind and caring spirit that was worth more than the money he could have made off of raising their rent over the years.

As the landscape and demographic has changed around them, they remain steadfast, but have been renting their home from him for 32 years, and do not own it.

One of the reasons that they were able to maintain their home in the Palisades is because Julie is a community fixture, organizing and running the children's and adult art classes that she's held in their garage for the last 15 years. Now, with the loss of this workspace alone, she is left with no way to continue classes or to support them, or the children who love her so dearly.

Wouter is a beloved figure all his own, a community leader on Nextdoor, and a highly talented, respected and adored sound engineer in Los Angeles.

Our parents, their generosity of spirit, and the magic of their home was felt by many in the community. It was a centerpiece for so many lives beyond ours. Everyone who walked through their purple door has been enchanted by their creativity and outpouring of love. All of our friends growing up loved hanging out there, not to mention the adults who would congregate, barbecue and dance in the backyard. All were welcome.

Unfortunately, our parents don’t have the financial support system to endure this tragedy on their own. They evacuated with few possessions. They are now truly displaced and have lost everything, without any real understanding of how to move forward.

There is a lot more to figure out here, the scope is beyond imagination. This fund is just to help them get through the present without fear or worry, so that they may begin to imagine a future.

Please share if you can, and if you can't, please repost far and wide. We would love for them to feel the love they have shared so selflessly and with so many. Thank you for your help and consideration.

Thinking of our whole Palisades community who have been rocked by this heartbreaking circumstance. Hoping our Los Angeles friends and family are safe and finding hope amongst the devastation.

Love,

Poppie and Etaih