In the wake of the Eaton Fire, every story of loss carries weight, but it’s often the quieter ones that gently remind us of the deep importance of compassion and community.
Ms. Harris is 80 years old. She lost her home to the blaze and had been staying at a motel and covering the cost herself. Day by day, her savings slowly disappeared. She was running out of time and options. Thankfully, she came to the right place.
Lindsey, Director of The Women’s Room, listened to her story and sent an email to the rest of our staff: Can we help? Can we ease the burden, even just a bit?
Luckily, Friends In Deed had implemented emergency motel funding for victims of the Eaton Fire. The timing couldn’t have been better. Thanks to those resources—and the power of a team that acts quickly and cares deeply—we were able to say yes.
Within hours, Ms. Harris had a room secured and paid for through the end of April. A roof over her head, stability for the weeks ahead, and a few steps closer to home.
But the story doesn’t end there. We’re hopeful we can support her beyond this emergency moment—with housing navigation services and, potentially, a path to a new, safe place to call her own.
When someone shows up at our door, we do what we can to meet them where they are. Sometimes all it takes is one email, one conversation, one “yes” to remind someone that they are not alone.