Support Sarah, Jerry, and Nala's Recovery

As many of you know, Sarah, Jerry and their dog Nala lost everything in the Eaton fire. Their family and friends are looking for ways to help, I've created a fundraiser. The amount listed is just a starting point, any amount you can give is appreciated, please feel free to share the link. Let's give them some breathing room while they figure out what's next:

Nearly ten years ago, I fell in love with Altadena during my year-long first time homebuyer search. Altadena has long been a unique gem in the LA suburbs known for its tight-knit community and rich history. I couldn't believe my luck that this neighborhood had one property within my budget. (Make no mistake she looked the budget too.) But she had this magical porch quickly dubbed "the perch" and I met my first few neighbors... at which point I knew I could make it work.

Over the past decade I have enjoyed corralling the projects needed to handle the notorious eyesore of the block. Upon moving into the house with me during early covid lockdowns, Jerry got looped into the whole ordeal and together we worked to bring her across the finish line. The last in a long list of projects was just completed in early December 2024. Unfortunately, in the early morning of January 8, the Eaton Canyon fire hopped Altadena's main thoroughfare and our beloved area has now been devastated. The personal sense of loss is immense, but the loss of a valued community is even greater. I hope this is evident in the news coverage. We've had little time to watch.

On the day and evening leading up to the fire crossing Lake Ave, we prepared diligently for strong winds and potential evacuation. Despite our efforts to stay vigilant and pack what we could into the car in advance, the shift in wind direction at 100mph escalated the situation much more quickly than we'd ever have thought possible. Just after 3 AM, Jerry saw through the window embers soaring amidst plumes of smoke and realized we had to leave immediately, despite having received no notice to evacuate. We grabbed our dog, Nala, and fled - witnessing apocalyptic conditions as we drove away from our home, aware in an instant that it was likely the last time.

The heartbreak of watching our neighborhood burn is beyond overwhelming. We are hoping to be part of an effort to save this precious community, but we need your help. Contributions will go towards continuing to pay the mortgage while we cannot live on the property.

We deeply appreciate any contribution you are able to make and thank you for being a part of our unexpected journey.