February 2025

January 2025

Partnerships Amplify Relief Efforts

Pasadena Village relies on partnerships to fulfill its mission. Representatives from organizations and businesses near and far offer educational presentations, provide information at annual resource fairs, help spread the word about our community programs, and make contributions as Business Partners.

In the early hours of January 8, hours after the start of the Eaton Fire, Pasadena Village staff and volunteers were reaching out to all Villagers and checking on them. But it was not a lonely endeavor - Pasadena Village was supported by Village leaders across the United States. Palos Verdes Village, Capitol Hill Village, Portland Area Villages, Ashby Village, NEXT Village SF, the Synagogue Village Network, Shepherdstown Area Independent Living, and many others offered help and encouragement. Village Movement California and Village to Village Network collaborated to raise the visibility of our Relief Fund and share our progress and stories. The Relief Fund was one way that others could assist to provide immediate relief to those impacted. One Village leader shared, “I can not even begin to imagine what the situation must be like there, and it's so good to have a concrete way in which we can help from a distance.  I'm sending prayers, as well, for their continued safety and recovery.”

Within days, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and neighbors set up distribution sites throughout Pasadena, and began to spread the word about free water, food, clothing, and supplies through social media, emails, word of mouth, and handmade signs on street corners. Some lines were long, some were open one day and gone the next. The help was heartfelt but sometimes hard to access or find out about. Connect 2 Rise and Polytechnic School, two of our program partners, reached out to Pasadena Village with lists of essential items they were offering. Pasadena Village volunteers were able to get priority access to retrieve water, N95 masks, toiletries, food, and other supplies, and redistribute them starting on Sunday, January 12. Volunteer drivers stepped up quickly to deliver items, and to stay to comfort and listen to the stories and emotions of the displaced Villagers. Both organizations were amazing at collecting, organizing, and distributing donations, and Pasadena Village was able to activate its network of drivers to get the items to those who needed them.

As 90 Villagers evacuated or left the area to find cleaner air and safer temporary housing, the volunteers and staff tried to support them from afar. One couple was staying in Century City and wanted masks for when they returned to Pasadena to retrieve their car. The Westside Pacific Villages came to the rescue - delivering 20 N95 masks to them at their temporary residence. And, the Sankofa Elders Project is creating care packages for displaced Villagers.

Katrin Koutassevitch, whose company, Firefly Counseling Pasadena, is a valued Business Partner, reached out within days of the inception of the Eaton Fire, with a specific, and much needed, offer of help. Katrin offered pro bono mental health services to Pasadena Villagers who were directly impacted by the fire. Villager Bridget Brewster immediately accepted this thoughtful gift.  She said, “My time with Katrin has been truly life-affirming and immensely helpful at a time when there was no one else with whom I could fully share my confusion and grief.  I”m healing because she immediately offered support”

Pasadena Village volunteers and intern Tino Melchor had already realized the great need for older adults to access mental health services in wake of the disaster. They had posted two free resources for crisis hotlines on the AgingSGV.org free resource website, but this was an offer from a local trusted source for a series of sessions with a group familiar and supportive of older adults and the village movement. Katrin offered priority to Village members to access her limited free spots for individual crisis support accessible in person or via telehealth. Katrin said, “I can at least offer a space for people to begin processing and make a plan to keep moving forward.” We shared her offer with the 20 Villagers who had lost their homes and within a few hours, 3 had responded letting us know they would reach out to her right away. It was another example of how Villages match helpers with older adults who could use more support at a time of crisis. 

We are so grateful for the caring compassion and practical help from so many generous people that Pasadena Village’s volunteers and staff could channel to make the greatest impact possible. Thank you to those mentioned, and the many more that have reached out - it is so appreciated!

*To See More Experiences With The Fire, Click on #LAFires