Fire Recovery Update • 11/23/2025
LTSC awarded PBT, PJCI and the Altadena Presbyterian Church the LANTERN AWARD for all the work they did to provide meals and activities for the Eaton Fire victims. They got to take a photo with David Ono!
|
|
40 people who were affected by the fire went to Tanaka Farms on Nov 2nd, and we all had a really nice time. Of the 40, there were 7 kids. We all jumped on the wagon for the Farm tour, had a delicious lunch, picked blackberries and pumpkins, and shopped! Weather was perfect!!
See all photos on the Eaton Fire page of this website.
See all photos on the Eaton Fire page of this website.
Fire Recovery Dance fundraiser was held on November 15th. We had over 200 come to enjoy the music of Kokoro, have sake tasting and magic by Bill Yamane.
Eaton Fire Updates
Saturday, December 20th there was a end of year lunch for all those that lost their homes in the Eaton Fire was held at the Far Bar in Little Tokyo. Prior to this event, the Little Tokyo Historical group took small groups on a tour through Little Tokyo. Today Far Bar and Azay were presented their plaques and Thank You banners.
On December 14 at the Oseibo Service we thanked all the volunteers and organizations, Keiro and LTSC, that helped provide meals and services to our fire victims.
Jeannie presented (L-R) June Chin, Shelley Shinmoto and Kyoko Gibbs their COMPASSIONATE HEART MEDAL for all the work they did for our fire victims.
Beverly Ito, Keiro Organization, accepted the Gassho from Our Hearts plaque.
|
Peter Gee, LTSC, accepted our Gassho from Our Hearts plaque.
|
November 2nd - with a grant from Keiro, a bus was hired and took 40-people to Tanaka Farms. 40 people went to Tanaka Farms and we all had a really nice time.
Of the 40, there were 7 kids. We all jumped on the wagon for the Farm tour, had a delicious lunch, picked blackberries and pumpkins, and shopped! Weather was perfect.
October 11th the Bruins Basketball families and Temple volunteers came to help move items from storage back into the classrooms. Thank you for all your hard work!
How We Have been Helping Local VictimsFrom the beginning of the disaster we had many groups offer items such as, gift cards, cleaning supplies, clothing, household goods and groceries without any solicitation. Everyone wanted to help.
|
Bishop Harada personally visited our temple members who lost homes in the Eaton Fire to deliver gifts from Kojun Ohtani Gomonshu-sama of Nishi Hongwanji Temple in Kyoto
|
PBT Heroes
Elliot Sloane & Michael Murray
|
The PBT has 2-Neighborhood heroes! Elliot Sloane and his brother-in-law Michael Murray. Elliot and his wife Jessica live on Mentone, their backyard fence is also the Temple's west fence. On that first day, Elliot and Michael noticed that there was smoke rising from the Temple grounds. So they ran to hop the fence, grabbed hoses and started wetting the hot spots that had started from the fire on Montana. When Lori and Alan came by that day to open the parking lot gates, they found them on the roof of the hondo, wetting down the roof.
We know that without their selfless efforts our Temple would have also been burned. Their home was also threatened, but they came to help us! Last week we dropped off bentos, but Elliot or Michael were not home. Today we went to thank them in person to thank them and present them with gifts from the Temple and sangha members that also wanted to offer them a reward. We are soooo grateful! Gassho, Lori and Jeannie |
Temple's "shortfall" to clean up after insurance coverage will be over $75,000. We appreciate everyone's support for the fundraiser, which went directly to our temple members who lost their homes in the fire.
NOW WE NEED YOUR HELP to get our Temple back up to service all the community groups!!
...Path to Recovery...
On January 8th, the wooden supports under the Hondo's porch were on fire.
We were fortunate to not have suffered more extensive damage GRATEFUL for our heroes!! Outpouring Warm Supports - Selfless Giving - Kindness
At one of January's bento distributions, we had a special guest come to help. Mrs. Mami Sone brought Kit Kat candies to include with each meal. She explained that "Kit" was short for "kitchi" or absolute and "Kat" was short for "katsu" or win in Japanese. We are grateful that she came to show her support of our neighbors.
|
MEDIA POSTS
Feb. 10 - Stone Lanterns Offer Hope to Family Rebuilding After Eaton Fire", Rafu Shimpo, by Gwen Muranaka,
Feb. 10 - "For Japanese Americans displaced by war and now wildfire, roots remain elusive" - The Guardian, by Lynda Lin Grigsby
Feb. 18 - Naomi Hirahara,"Care for Altadena Victims, Nikkei Style," Facebook. Click on link to view video.
April 14 - Pasadena Star News, "Small but solid, Altadena’s Japanese American community is at a crossroads," by Anissa Rivera"
BCA Wheel of Dharma
All Temple members should be receiving the BCA publication, The Wheel of Dharma. Many thanks to Ralph Honda (BTSD) who has written articles which have been featured as the lead story on the last 2 newsletters.
If you did not receive a copy....please click on the button to get to the online version of the newsletters. 
Thriving Tea Garden
|
Generous Meals prepared by Yama, Azay, Far Bar, and the JACCC with ingredients provided by Mutual Trading
Many thanks to everyone who has been helping with the meal preparation and distributions...it takes lots of caring volunteers who give up their time to help others!
Sign created by Kyoko and Dharma School students. The Sign Board was built by Max Geldman, wood artist and participant in the Invisible Teahouse project. Sadly, his residence and possessions were lost in the fire.
|
Fundraising LinksIf you can, please support the GoFundMe campaigns of individual Temple Members
We are also encouraging support for our friends at Side Street Project who provided funding and leadership for our Invisible Teahouse Project and artists who participated in the project. Please click on the button to learn more and where to donate.
Some of our neighboring institutions are also raising funds for fire relief. Please consider helping them.
RESOURCES FOR FIRE RELIEF
Amazing Supportive Organizations
GRATEFUL
for Kindness and Compassion 
|
