Support Virginia Lennon after Fire Devastation

Dear family and friends, as most of you know the current fires that started in Pacific Palisades and all around Los Angeles County have taken a devastating toll on our family, friends and so many others throughout the County. Born and raised in Santa Monica, Venice, and other nearby areas it is absolutely horrible and terribly sad to think of the destructiuon of our beloved neighborhoods, favorite and frequented places, beautiful mountains and landscape and all of the happy homes gone or forever changed. On behalf of My siblings Summer & Kevin Marshall, and myself Heather Marshall, we want to share our mom's story.

Our Mother Sweet Virginia Lennon lost her home on Tuesday night as did the entire tight knit Palisades Bowl Mobile Home Park Community to the unforgiving Palisades Fire. This is one of the oldest and only communities left in the area that offers affordable housing options and is home to many low income and elderly families.

Grandma Virgie has called the Palisades Bowl Home for the past 21 years, her “little trailer by the sea” or her “Little Avalon”, adorned in sea glass and wind chimes, treasures from her walks on the beach, well cared for plants and flowers lining her porch and the giant peace sign hanging out front. Tiny as her trailer was it always felt like home to us, a little hub to her children and especially to her grandchildren who were raised going to grandmas always and often, slumber parties, stories and getting into whatever inspired and mom’s trailer was full of inspiration. Currently her daughter Summer and grand daughter Kalli were also temporarily calling grandma Virgie’s house “home”. Co-existing together because whenever we have needed a place to land mom has been there for us, even if it is a little snug. Cozy as it was she has always welcomed any friend, family or “weary travelor” to make a pit stop along their way north or south on PCH for an impromptu visit, lunch, a dip in the pool or a trip to the beach.

Our wonderful mom Virginia is always helping everyone else, be it driving her neighbor to the doctor or making dinner with Tony Koz down the street to feed another elderly neighbor . Her porch might become an afternoon salon to get your hair streaked, we would transform her carport into a workshop for wedding flower arrangements, a painters studio for props for one event or another… even creating a “production headquarters” for a “Venice Band” concert or a “Lennon Family Reunion” Concert. Everyone else always comes first with Sweet Virginia and her purple door was always open.

It’s surreal to think it is all vanished.

In the swift evacuations only a few items were able to be grabbed and thrown in the car packed in a whirlwind with smoke and ash. Mom’s house was tiny but all our family heirlooms as well as our sister Summer’s were stashed there, family movies, photos, jewelry, special artwork , books and furniture, kalli’s dresser of clothes and just all the special things they have worked for and cared for as well as essential stuff like toiletries and clothing... just everything.

We are so thankful everyone got out with their lives though it was very traumatic and dangerous for so many, my mom an Summer helping neighbors on their way out, though our little Simba could not be found.

Simba. We have hopes we can find Simba kitty, who chose my mom and Tony to be her humans, wandering to and fro their homes. We hope to get into the park or get help to look for her and other beloved pets of the neighborhood, the thought of it is heartbreaking, the only place for them to go was the hillside or the beach both absolutely inundated with smoke.

Any and all support is welcome and so very appreciated, all of your kindness and compassion will help make a difference in this difficult time. Your donations will go to both the immediate need for essentials like clothing and toiletries as well as temporary housing during the aftermath of this trajedy and God willing a new start in the near future.

There is so much uncertainty in a time like this and there are still fires raging but we can count our blessings with the love and support of our friends, family, community and fellow humans. The Human Spirit is Strong, we can help each other get through this. We thank you and God Bless