Support Saundra Parker's Recovery from Fire Loss

Hello Friends,

My family and I have suffered a devastating loss of our material possessions.

We lost the home of my sister and brother-in-law, myself, and all of our possessions in the devastating Altadena Eaton fire.

I am a long-time resident of Altadena; 

I grew-up in this city; attended primary, McKinley Jr High, and John Muir High school in this community, am a USC alum, and have deep roots in the city of Altadena.

In 1981, I established a charitable organization, co-founded a day care center and private elementary schools

in Pasadena with my long-time educator and entrepreneur mother, 

Mrs. Faithie Parker. 

Sadly, Faith passed in 2022.

The program was called 

Faith Educational Center or F, E.C.

Our organization also administrated and hosted a number of community-based program services under the umbrella of the organization, which included sober homes, safe houses for survivors of domestic abuse, job training programs via the Probation Dept, provided physical health, mental health, and other social service resources, and provided a multi-faceted resource and referral agency that assisted the homeless, veterans, families, seniors, individuals in recovery, members of marginalized communities, and 

as many individuals as possible that we could help in their endeavors.

Our agency operated from 1980 - 2021, suspending activities due to the COVID Pandemic in 2021.

I am/was in the process of planning organizing and resuming our services, which will include low-income housing resources, until experiencing the life disrupting experience of the Eaton fire.

This is the first time that I find that I am a person requiring assistance - hence, the request for help.

I lost my vehicle, which was in an Altadena local auto repair shop.

I’d planned to pick it up on January 8th, only to view in a video that the shop and all of the vehicles in the lot have been reduced to a large pile of melted plastic, glass, and a burned metal frame.

I had many of my household items, much of my clothing, and most of my furniture stored in the Altadena Lincoln Avenue U-Haul, which now appears to be damaged, inaccessible and/or

destroyed by the fire.

I lost all of my clothing, shoes and literally every item that a living human needs to function while breathing.

I evacuated with my family members late in the evening of January 7th/early in the morning of January 8th, clad only with the clothing on my back, a pair of shoes on my feet, and, (my 17-year-old Jack Russell, Bosco), in his carrier.

All of the above circumstances are why I’m posting this request.

I am literally in shock; my heart is still pounding, my body continues to vibrate, I still see the red cinders bouncing across the car hood, rolling fireballs, thick smoke obscuring my vision, and fires burning everywhere.

Fires Burning Everywhere.

Any assistance that you can provide would be very much appreciated.

I plan to secure a car, clothing, household items, and a place to live.

This effort is solely in place as my attempt to restore my life circumstances.

No sum is too or small.

I am very grateful that my sister-Cynthia, my brother-in-law, Ibarionex, and both our pets are safe, solid, and together - as we experience this “new thing”.

My heart bleeds for those who lost their lives, I cry for those lost possessions, and I hope that we can eventually provide solace and help to others as we also make our recovery efforts.

The fact that our family and I am devastated is an understatement.

Thank you for taking time to read this posting.

Unlimited Love to You and Yours,

Dena Strong

Saundra Parker