The Bra Shoppe is set to host a fundraiser for LA wildfire victims
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Bra Shoppe is set to host a fundraiser for victims of the Los Angeles wildfires on Thursday.
Heidi Shubin and Belinda Ratcliffe joined 17 News with more information on the event.
The event is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bra Shoppe, located at 1400 Calloway Drive in Suite 202.
Altadena residents attempt to put back the pieces of their lives after Eaton Fire
Proceeds go to the Altadena Girls who are fundraising to give back to their peers.
Organizers say a full house with treats, sales, raffles and charcuterie is expected at Thursday's event.
Watch the video in the player for more details.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Why Wildfires Can Be Especially Devastating for Older Adults
After a wildfire, the focus often turns to rebuilding homes. But for many older adults, the deeper challenge is rebuilding a sense of safety, identity, and connection, especially when they've lost the home and neighborhood that grounded their lives. 'A lot of their interpersonal connections are disappearing, because people die as they get older,' Dr. Jonathan Sherin, a psychiatrist and former director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, said. 'So you know, your social network shrinks, whether you like it or not.' That shrinking circle becomes even more dangerous when paired with the trauma and displacement that occur after losing your home in a wildfire. Dr. Sherin calls it 'the other LOL, which is the lethality of loneliness.' A 2023 study published in Science of the Total Environment found that older adults (ages 65 and up) who were exposed to multiple large wildfires in California experienced significantly more frequent days of mental health problems, even years later. Researchers noted that the psychological burden was strongest among seniors with limited income or mobility. When an elderly adult's property burns down in a wildfire, they don't just lose shelter. They also lose a place of lifelong memories, routines, and identity — a home they hoped would last long after them and bring comfort to their families in the future. In Altadena, a diverse neighborhood known for its historic Black population and strong pride in generational homeownership, the devastation of the Eaton Fire has been especially painful. 'Altadena was one of those spots where there was generational wealth creation,' said architect Matthew Trotter, president of SoCal NOMA and leader of the Altadena Rebuild Coalition. 'And what comes with generational wealth creation is also a certain level of knowledge creation.' Trotter said that a large part of the 200 families his coalition is supporting to help rebuild Altadena are older residents whose homes were purchased by themselves or their families in the 40s, 50s, and 60s as a place of refuge for African-Americans from redlining and discriminatory housing practices in Los Angeles during the Jim Crow era. A recent analysis by the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies found that 57% of Black homeowners affected by the Eaton Fire in Altadena were over the age of 65. Trotter said that many of them lacked adequate insurance, and their losses have disrupted generational wealth that families had hoped to pass on. This underscores how the destruction of homes for older wildfire survivors can damage family legacy, history and connection, bringing on another layer of distress. National research has shown that older adults are more likely to develop PTSD and adjustment disorders following disasters than younger populations, due in part to fragile support systems, compounding life losses, and barriers to accessing care. 'Old people get isolated and they get lonely,' Dr. Sherin said. 'Particularly in Western culture, which is not necessarily focused on family as much as other cultures.' He explained that trauma for older wildfire survivors can surface in many ways, including hypervigilance, irritability, depression, or complete withdrawal to the point that they stop doing actions that help prolong their lives. 'They don't eat well, they stop taking their medications, they drive when they shouldn't be driving,' Dr. Sherin said. 'They become suicidal and self-injurious, or they just defer their care.' Sometimes, these changes are mistaken for signs of normal aging, but they may actually signal more profound distress, particularly following a traumatic event like a natural disaster. Whether you're a family member, neighbor, or friend, being proactive in talking about the trauma and being present for elderly wildfire survivors can make a real difference. Sherin noted that wildfire survivors often 'take a big financial hit' and may find themselves relying on others in ways that feel uncomfortable, which can keep them from asking for help. 'When you're losing your agency, and you're losing your identity as a part of a trauma … that's a real problem and it needs to be addressed,' Dr. Sherin said. 'And the way to address it is not just medicating people.' He said it's essential to help older adults feel connected and appreciated, whether by inviting them to family events or encouraging regular routines, such as attending church. Dr. Sherin also said that some sadness and grief are expected. 'A lot of it is normal, and is a normal part of the process of kind of going through a loss, mourning it and moving it forward,' Dr. Sherin said. However, if anyone affected by the fires finds it challenging to do the things they usually do, it may be a sign that they are not coping well with their loss and may need extra support. Here are specific signs Dr. Sherin said to look for: However, there is some positive research on mental health consequences for our elders after a wildfire. Some studies have found that older disaster survivors may carry greater long-term resilience. According to a 2023 article in the Journal of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, older adults often suffer greater psychological harm in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, but those who do rebuild or receive meaningful support within a year may become less vulnerable to long-term psychological decline than younger adults. Researchers referred to this as the 'inoculation' effect of aging, citing life experience and emotional regulation as key factors in post-disaster recovery. Therefore, the key to making sure elderly wildfire survivors do not develop depression and can cope well with the loss is to engage with them and make them feel a part of the community. Dr. Sherin said that when families, neighbors, and communities offer connection and care, that support can be the most powerful form of healing. It just takes everyone to be comfortable addressing mental health challenges and feel the duty to act if they see someone struggling. 'Raise the red flag in a loving way, just like you would when someone you know is injured physically,' Dr. Sherin said. 'When someone's burned and they're in pain. Do you just ignore it? No. So it's the same thing, and we can't ignore that.' If you or someone you know is actively planning to harm themselves, call 988 or 911 immediately. Visit the LA County Department of Mental Health – Older Adult Services page for free access to therapy, case management, and in-home support for L.A. County residents aged 60 and older experiencing depression, trauma, grief, or isolation. You can also call their ACCESS line 24/7 at 800-854-7771 or text 'LA' to 741741.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
How A College Guidance Program Became a Post-Wildfire Lifeline
With nearly 1,400 of its students affected by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Pasadena's College Access Plan, like many California Community Foundation grantees, became a relief and recovery organization overnight. ALTADENA, Calif., June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Like so many others, Alejandra Surias saw her world turn upside down on Jan. 7. As fast-moving flames tore through Eaton Canyon in one of the state's most destructive wildfires ever, the Pasadena High School senior fled her home with her family in the dead of night. Thick smoke clogged the air, hampering her vision and breathing. Howling winds tore down tree branches and rocked her family's car as they sped away. When she returned to survey the damage, Alejandra began to cry. The Altadena apartment building she had lived in her entire life was unlivable, with the windows blown out and ash everywhere. She had to toss out some of her clothes, potentially now tainted with toxic smoke. Schools had shut down, disrupting her daily routine. Her mother and father were shell-shocked as they searched for a place to live with their two children and two dogs, moving from a relative's house to a hotel to a motel. Two weeks later, Alejandra's phone rang. It was Karla Ramos, a program coordinator with College Access Plan (CAP), a Pasadena-based nonprofit that provides no-cost services to help underserved students beginning in fifth grade prepare for college. Alejandra, who has worked with Ramos for two years, was filled with relief to hear the familiar voice. What do you need? How can I help? Ramos asked her. In those devastating days after the fire, Ramos and CAP staff would go well beyond their role as college planning specialists helping students explore careers, review transcripts, research campuses and assist with applications and financial aid. They provided a vital lifeline of financial, emotional and mental support to Alejandra and hundreds of other students whose lives were upended by the Eaton Fire. The program connected Alejandra's family with several resources, including grocery gift cards from the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation and other donors and a suitcase filled with a tablet, air purifier, face masks and candy – along with $10,000 – from Letters Charity, a Chicago nonprofit. The funding, which Alejandra said moved her mother to tears, helped the family secure a new apartment in Arcadia. Ramos also helped Alejandra prepare for an experience of a lifetime: the Grammy Awards. Fifteen program students were invited to attend; Macy's in Pasadena brought them into the department store to choose outfits, shoes and accessories – all on the house. Alejandra, wearing a silky pink dress, got to see her idol, Billie Eilish. "I was so grateful because I was so depressed about everything that happened and this was just something fun to distract me," Alejandra said, "It was such a great time." The California Community Foundation has supported College Access Plan with grants totaling $425,000 since 2022. Like CAP, many other CCF grantees have also had to make wildfire recovery a top priority since January. Ca'Leah King, a parent, said the program has been a godsend to her and her son, Evan Wade. Evan began the program in sixth grade at Wilson Middle School, stayed with it through graduation from Pasadena High School and is still connected as a member of I Heart College, which supports CAP alumni through their college journey. Evan now attends UC Berkeley. King said the wildfires forced them to flee their Altadena apartment and scramble from "hotel to hotel, Airbnb to Airbnb." But relief that the building escaped destruction turned to dismay when she learned she had to toss out everything – her clothes, furniture, electronics – and wait months before she could return. A CAP staff member, Wendy Duran, has checked in regularly with King and her son, connecting them with grocery gift cards, a $1,000 donation and apartment listings. She also offers a sympathetic ear when King calls Duran to say she's had a terrible day. "They've been there for us – they're like family," King said. "They've definitely supported us emotionally." Mo Hyman, the program's executive director, said 82% of the 1,700 students the program serves were impacted by the fires. She estimated that at least 100 students lost their homes while the others were displaced either short-term or, like Alejandra's family, on a more long-term basis until their previous housing is restored. As Pasadena Unified School District sites remained shuttered for weeks, Hyman and her staff switched into overdrive to help school administrators contact students, assess their needs and distribute donations. After connecting with students, they learned that the wildfires had created new challenges with some of their college plans. Families who had lost homes, cars, jobs and other sources of security needed to file appeals for more financial aid. Katarine and Matthew Hart, twin siblings who attend John Muir High School, both plan to attend the University of Hawaii this fall – but after the wildfires destroyed their family's home, the annual $38,000 cost of attendance per student is a bigger stretch to afford. With Ramos' help, they are filing financial aid appeals. Other students are revising their college choices. Some had planned to attend Pasadena City College, for instance, but have been displaced outside the area so need to rethink whether a longer commute is feasible, Hyman said. Hyman's biggest concern is the toll the fires have taken on the students' mental and emotional health. Those effects might not yet be readily apparent as students may still be in a grieving stage without having fully grasped the enormity of what they lost, she said. But a 2014 National Institutes of Health study and other research have found that trauma can create a loss of confidence in a positive future and an inability to think ahead, Hyman said. She worries that some students may experience a delayed reaction to the trauma they suffered and decide over the summer, for instance, to forego college in the fall. "I'm concerned there will be a trauma cliff," Hyman said. "We're going to see massive trauma impacts in the next several years and those will impact educational choices. This will be a 10-year arc." College Access Plan board members are shifting strategies to address this challenge. Rather than focus on expansion to other regions, the nonprofit is doubling down on serving their Pasadena and Altadena families as questions loom on how many will stay in the area once the school year ends and what support they will continue to need. Hyman said CAP will invest more in peer counseling grounded in trauma care as they explore other ways they can support the community's disaster recovery efforts. In the meantime, they will continue their foremost mission – to help underserved students prepare for college. The effort began in 2006 by Hyman and Kathleen Parent as a way to address the gap in college knowledge and enrollment among Pasadena public school students who are low-income and the first in their families to attend college. The program initially began at John Muir High School, and now serves students at four elementary schools and all middle and high schools in the Pasadena Unified School District. It also serves students at all four high schools in the Hacienda La Puente School District. Staff members have developed a thick folder of curriculum that includes information about colleges, financial aid, essays, resumes, "brag sheets," careers, majors and transcript reviews. About 98% of seniors who attend at least three sessions – either visiting the program centers on campus or taking a course on college fundamentals or essay writing – advance to postsecondary education. Four-fifths of them graduate or remain enrolled in college over six years, Hyman said. Alejandra will join the alumni program as a student at Cypress College studying to become an ultrasound technician. She credits Ramos and other CAP staff for helping her turn around a slow start in high school and gain confidence, leadership skills and entry into a path toward a well-paying career in the health services. "I love this program so much," she said. "They've been really super duper helpful and have given me so much support." Media Contact: Gilien Silsby, gsilsby@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE California Community Foundation
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
More cowbell, fewer unhoused: Point-in-time homeless count brings goal slightly more into focus
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – They have a tradition at the Brundage Lane Navigation Center: Graduates get a parade. Not the traditional kind. No baton twirlers, no trombones. It's more like a gauntlet of joy, with employees and fellow navigation center residents sending off a fellow homeless center resident to the world of the housed with hoots and cheers. The closest thing to a musical instrument? Cowbell. Mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile virus in Kern County And Navigation Center manager Theo Dues wants more cowbell. 'We're gonna continue to do this work until we see this crisis resolved,' Dues told KGET on a recent tour of the Brundage Lane facility, managed by Mercy House in collaboration with the City of Bakersfield. 'We truly believe that homelessness is a problem that we can solve. Now just manage. That we can actually solve.' What's the holdup? Primarily this: The availability of affordable housing. California has a shortage. There are signs things are improving. Then there's this positive trend. The Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative's new point-in-time homeless count reveals a decline in the number of unhoused in Kern County. Not a huge decline – just 2.3 percent from last year's count – but a decline nonetheless. The annual count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The collected data is used by state and federal governments to determine funding for counties, cities, and local continuums of care, so it's important – important to know not just how many, but who and from what backgrounds. 'Now, within this count and every count, every demographic is represented,' said Lauren Skidmore of the Open Door Network, which runs the Bakersfield Homeless Center. 'There is a very diverse population of homeless individuals.' Never miss a story: Make your homepage The 2025 Count revealed 2,606 people experiencing homelessness, including 1,393 who are unsheltered and 1,213 individuals who have utilized shelters. This is not an exact science, but it's one of the few tools we have. Counting the number of people living in shelters is one thing, but counting those on the street is quite another. And officials with the collaborative say their ability to gather data that can be trusted is at an all-time high – not just because they continue to tweak their techniques, but because they continue to see buy-in from the broader community. 358 volunteers participated in the three-day count, the third straight year of high volunteer participation. That, combined with a more sophisticated counting process and progress in the creation of affordable housing means the likelihood of more navigation center graduation parades. Because we got to have more cowbell. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
