What the Fire Taught Me: Say "Yes" to Help

Before the fire, when someone offered help, I’d politely decline: “No, thank you.”
I never wanted to bother anyone.

Then came the fire in Altadena. Our lives unraveled in an instant.[Warning: This video is very said and may be difficult to watch. If you’re not up for it, feel free to skip it.]

🏡 Today, I lead the 𝐄𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨 & 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐛, an online community of 450+ displaced people supporting one another. Every day, I’m reminded of the power of saying “𝐘𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮” to the incredible support we’ve received.

Here’s what I’ve gratefully accepted:
✨ Friends offering spare bedrooms—squeezing their own kids to make space for my family.
✨ Friends housing and feeding my kids while my husband and I figured things out.
✨ A free haircut from Hollywood stylists (the ones behind your favorite movies and TV shows!).
✨ Hundreds of messages filled with care and concern from so many of you.

Here’s what I’ve learned:
🌎 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩.
🤝 Saying “yes” gives them that chance. And builds connection.
❤️ And connection is what we all need more of—not just in a disaster, but always.

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩?
Share your story on the LinkedIn post here. I’d love to hear from you.

If you know someone displaced by the Eaton Fire who would like to join our network, contact me. 𝐍𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞.