Pasadena Community Comes Together After Eaton Fire
Pasadena, California has seen a heartwarming reaction in the face of hardship that many residents didn’t expect just a few short weeks ago. On January 8, as the Eaton fire blazed through nearby Altadena, the interim food director for the Pasadena Unified School District, Liz Powell, jumped into action. Despite the chaos, her focus remained clear: she needed to get to work.
A Race Against Time
Powell rushed over to the district’s service center but didn’t get far before police ordered her and her fellow coworkers to evacuate. “It was bad, very scary,” she recalled. With power outages and a backdrop of exploding transformers and propane tanks, it was a night to remember for Powell and her team, many of whom lost power and, tragically, some even lost their homes.
However, within 24 hours, Powell and her dedicated crew were back on their feet, ready to provide free lunches to students in need. Thanks to the community eligibility provision, all children in the district eat for free, which means no family would go hungry. Powell swiftly submitted an emergency plan to the state for child nutrition programs and called on a dependable food vendor.
Feeding the Community
With that, even though schools were closed, the food service team sprang into action. They organized grab-and-go meal distributions at local sites around Pasadena, making sure that those affected by the fire didn’t have to worry about food. In no time, they were dishing out well over 2,000 meals daily to families affected by the tragedy. Powell couldn’t help but compare the emotional weight of this crisis to the COVID-19 pandemic, she’s familiar with crisis management but this felt different. “Having parents drive up asking for extra spoons makes it all the more real,” she said.
At James Madison Elementary, just a short drive away from Altadena, vehicles formed lines as food service workers like Ino Cortez and Sue Cisneros distributed bags of nutritious food. Each bag contained breakfast items like fruit, milk, and cereal, while lunch bags offered solid choices like sandwiches, fruit, and even celery sticks. On top of that, the local non-profit, Pasadena Education Foundation, dispatched volunteers who helped give out more than 1,500 meals in a day!
Community Support
With the community coming together, Madison Elementary’s principal, Dr. Elisa Perez, coordinated a partnership with the local food bank to provide emergency boxes for families, containing enough food for four people for three days. Additionally, free produce like carrots, potatoes, and even water were distributed, all thanks to generous local organizations and residents.
Fast forward nearly two weeks since that devastating day, and things are looking up. Ino Cortez, who tragically lost his home, reported a decrease in demand from around 500 meal requests. This drop is a positive sign, indicating that many families are finding their way back home and that schools were set to reopen later in the month.
Navigating Tough Times
Cortez may still be living in temporary accommodations, but he has remained committed to serving the community by getting back to work. “Doing this helps keep my mind off things, but I can’t help but think about what we’ve lost,” he expressed. Meanwhile, parents like Sheyla Saenz have been showing up at the grab-and-go lines, grateful for the meals that have assisted their families during such trying times. Even though her family’s home remained intact, she had to cut back on work hours due to the kids being home. “Every little bit helps,” she acknowledges. “And the kids really enjoy the food.”
Looking Ahead
As schools reopened on January 30, the question remained whether students would return to classes. Powell expressed a sense of hope: “Whoever shows up, we’re prepared to feed them,” she assured. Amid all the challenges, Pasadena continues to showcase the power of community solidarity as they navigate through these uncertain times together.
