Rae & Jerry's Story

"The wildfires changed our lives dramatically--overnight we lost everything and needed to find a place to stay. Luckily, my sister and her husband welcomed us to move in with them for a week while we tried to figure things out. Immediately, we needed to buy essential items--laptop computers, clothing, toiletries, etc.and adjust to being homeless--it sure made us appreciate what we had. Our life now is dealing with our insurance company, evaluating our ability to rebuild, and getting our lives back on track. We are so fortunate to have friends, family, and organizations to help us on this difficult road. Slowly, but surely, we are making progress--however, we have a long way to go. We are very grateful that so many people care about victims of the Eaton Canyon Fire. It is especially touching that your entire staff dedicated time to help those of us who lost their homes. Words cannot express how we feel. We are so thankful that so many people care--it is very difficult losing everything and trying to rebuild our lives. During this difficult time, we have met so many wonderful people--those in our same situation and those willing to help. Altadena is a wonderful place to live and with hard work, dedicated residents, and support, it will thrive."