The White Pony Express team and our neighbors in Los Angeles are grateful to all who contributed gift cards and drew pictures with messages of love and support for those impacted by the fires.
On Friday, February 28th, Eve Birge had the honor of carrying your gifts to 120 families of students at a high school in Altadena and an elementary school in neighboring Pasadena. She was joined by her friend Terry Johnson, the executive director at a nonprofit called Following Francis, and a group of longtime WPE supporters and volunteers, several based in Los Angeles.
Together they handed out 120 beautifully wrapped gift boxes each containing this note: “From our family to your family” along with $800 in cash from Following Francis and a stack of useful gift cards that had been donated by many of you. We also included gift cards to the Cheesecake Factory, a special treat and not something people tend to prioritize in times of stress (but often exactly what is needed).
Dr. Lawton Gray, a warm and trusted leader in his community, is the principal at John Muir High, which was greatly impacted by the fires. He identified dozens of school community members who had lost their homes. As families entered his office, they offered their thanks in tearful silence or through storytelling and conversation about their experiences over the last two months. Principal Gray and our contact at the elementary school had also lost their homes in the fires.
Deepest thanks to all who contributed to these gifts of love… from our family to your family.