Support Khristo's Family After Eaton Fire

My name is Khristo Alvarado. As we all know, the Eaton Fire ravaged the Altadena community, leaving many without homes. My family was among those. Our home was our everything. For my two younger brothers, Shanti (age 7) and Zhenya (age 14 ), it was the only home they’d ever known. Shanti and Zhenya spent hours and hours running and playing in the yard, while protected by the property’s walls. For Zhenya, those walls and fences around our home were especially important. They created the safest and most perfect environment for him to live freely, without the dangers and overstimulation of the roads because of his autism.

On Tuesday, my family was forced to evacuate due to the incoming fire. At the time, we were at the hospital visiting a family member and had very little time to grab anything before we had to leave. The situation is heartbreaking, and it’s a tragedy what has happened to our home. Losing our home was heartbreaking for us and our parents, Glenda and Hugo Isaac Alvarado. This house was my mom’s dream home—it was a place where my younger brother, who is autistic, could have the space and freedom he needs without being in danger. It meant the world to my mom, and I’m doing everything I can to support her during this difficult time. It was everything she’d hoped for my family. 

Both my parents worked and had their own careers. My dad, Hugo, is a life coach and a motivational speaker for the church. His life's work has been dedicated to helping others grow stronger in their faith and become the best versions of themselves. My mom, Glenda, has worked tirelessly as a full-time caregiver for my brothers, and she also started a small business in our room that helped others in need. She had just started an holistic practice from home called “The Calm Mind Studio” and opened the doors to those in need and healed them to the best of her ability. The business was picking up clientele before the fire, but without our home, my mom cannot continue her service. 

She always opened the door to anyone who needed support and put so much effort into making our home special; from cooking dinner for us to long talks in the living room, to making holidays feel magical—she’s always put her heart into creating a warm, welcoming home for our family. In addition to being a full-time mom, she works a part-time job, but now with my younger brothers unable to go to school and the loss of our home, everything is uncertain. No amount is too small and everything is deeply appreciated. Anything that can help us start from scratch, get my brothers the care they need, and put food on the table is deeply appreciated. Your help will allow us to address the many aspects of recovery and support our family through the crisis. We’re incredibly grateful for any support and thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your kindness. —Khristo

 Spanish Translation:

 Mi nombre es Khristo Alvarado. Como muchos saben, el incendio de Eaton devastó la comunidad de Altadena, dejando a muchas familias sin hogar, incluida la nuestra. Para mis dos hermanos menores, Shanti (7) y Zhenya (14, quien tiene autismo), nuestro hogar no era solo una casa. Era su refugio, el único hogar que habían conocido. Shanti y Zhenya pasaban horas jugando en el patio, protegidos por las paredes de nuestra propiedad. Para Zhenya, esas paredes no eran solo límites, sino una línea de vida. Le brindaban el espacio seguro y tranquilo que necesitaba, resguardándolo de los peligros y la sobrestimulación del mundo exterior. El martes, mientras visitábamos a un familiar en el hospital, nos vimos obligados a evacuar sin tiempo para salvar nada. Perder nuestro hogar ha sido devastador, especialmente para mis padres, Glenda y Hugo Isaac Alvarado. Mi papá, Hugo, es Coach de Vida y orador motivacional en la iglesia. Su trabajo siempre ha estado dedicado a ayudar a las personas a fortalecer su fe y convertirse en la mejor versión de sí mismas. Mi mamá también se ha dedicado incansablemente a cuidar de mis hermanos mientras construía The Calm Mind Studio, una práctica holística para ayudar a otros a sanar. Su negocio estaba comenzando a florecer, pero con la pérdida de nuestro hogar, ya no puede continuar con su trabajo. Además de estos esfuerzos, mi mamá trabaja medio tiempo, pero con mis hermanos sin poder asistir a la escuela y sin un hogar estable, enfrentamos una gran incertidumbre. Estamos pidiendo tu apoyo para ayudarnos a comenzar de nuevo. Tu donación nos permitirá encontrar estabilidad, brindar a mis hermanos los cuidados que necesitan y ayudar a mis padres a continuar con su trabajo, que ha tocado tantas vidas. No hay aporte pequeño; cada donación, oración o acto de amabilidad significa el mundo para nosotros. Confiamos en Dios y en la generosidad de los demás para superar este difícil momento. Gracias por tu ayuda. Desde el fondo de nuestro corazón, siempre estaremos agradecidos. Bendiciones — Khristo