Support Rita and Melani in Rebuilding Their Lives

Dear Family and Friends,

On January 7, 2025, my house, along with 146 other homes in my neighborhood, was completely destroyed in a devastating fire in Pacific Palisades. I lost everything in a matter of hours. I was able to evacuate with a suitcase, a few clothes, and some photo albums. Everything else is gone. My neighbors also lost their homes, so we not only lost our houses but also the close-knit community we shared.

I purchased my house three years ago as part of the preparations to adopt my daughter from Colombia. One of the adoption requirements was to have a stable home where I could provide her with a safe and loving environment. The house was a fixer-upper, and I put all my life savings into renovating and furnishing it to make it a beautiful home for my daughter. Last October, I brought my daughter home from Colombia—she was nine years old at the time. For over a year, we lived happily in our new home, until the tragic fire destroyed everything.

The most heartbreaking part of this tragedy is that my daughter, who has already experienced so much trauma, loss, and abandonment in her young life, has now lost everything again. This breaks my heart more than words can express.

Unfortunately, our insurance will only cover a small portion of the loss, leaving us unable to recover fully without your help. Your help will allow us to address the many aspects of recovery, and support our family through this crisis.

Since I emigrated to the U.S. from Poland in 1995, I’ve always managed to stand on my own two feet and rarely asked for help. But now I am reaching out—this is one of those rare moments where I need assistance to rebuild our lives. Every little contribution makes a big difference. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your generosity and support.

With gratitude,

Rita and Melani Ciolek