La Salle Eaton Fire Response Daily Update - January 15, 2025

Dear La Salle Community - We hope and pray that you continue to remain safe and well during this trying time. As we progress through this difficult time together, we will be sending daily updates to our La Salle community via email to ensure you are informed about the latest information regarding our school operations and community well-being.

School Operations Update

La Salle will remain closed for instruction for the upcoming week through Friday, January 17th, with school operations resuming on Tuesday, January 21st.

Our Administration Team is preparing for students’ return to campus on Tuesday, January 21st, prioritizing the safety, well-being, and overall wellness of our students. The schedule for January 21st and other details regarding the start of the semester will be shared with our school community by Friday, January 17th.

As we prepare for our return to campus, our faculty and staff will be participating in a professional development training session with Therapist Elizabeth Mead, CSW, EMDR, on campus this Thursday to help us guide conversations with students who have been exposed to trauma as a result of the wildfires.

Lancer Support Drive Update

At this time, we are at full capacity and can only receive gift cards. Thank you for your support and generosity!

To date, we are aware that over 130 alumni and current families have lost their homes to the wildfires, with even more displaced due to evacuation orders. We continue to remain grateful for the community’s unwavering support. Please know that the Lancer Support Drive is open to anyone in the local community who has been affected or impacted by any of the wildfires in the region. In the spirit of our mission, our doors remain open to anyone in need. Please share this link/PDF flyer with anyone you know who may benefit from our support drive.

Lancer Support Drive Hours and Location: Monday, January 13th to Friday, January 17th, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Essentials can be picked up in the Dining Hall. Please enter the Lower Parking Lot through the gates off Michillinda Ave.

Items Available For Pick-Up

• Bedding and pillows- including pillowcases

• Non-Perishable Snacks & Bottled Water

• Toiletries - Toothbrush & Toothpaste, Shampoo & Conditioner, Body Wash, Deodorant, Hairbrush, Body lotion, Hand sanitizer, Facial tissues, Sanitary napkins, Feminine Hygiene Products, Small Face Cloth

• Socks/Undergarments

• N95 Masks

• Portable chargers/Battery Packs

• Flashlights

• Gift Cards - Visa Gift Card, Gas Cards, Target, Home Depot, Walmart, Kohl’s, Marshalls and Ross, Grocery Stores

• School Supplies - Backpacks, Pencil pouch, Notebooks, Pencil, Pens, Highlighters, Folders, Paper, Graphing calculators

• Used school uniforms

Textbooks: Families who need their textbooks replaced due to the fires may complete this JotForm. La Salle will ensure that books are ordered for students as soon as possible.

Daily Hot Meals: Throughout the week, we will also have hot meals available in the Dining Hall for families and community members in need from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM daily. We are so appreciative of Sierra Madre Pizza Company, El Portal, Nothing Bundt Cake, Hummus Lab, World Central Kitchen, JJ’s Bakery, Wingstop, and parent/family volunteers for supporting our hot meals this week! If you or an organization are interested in supporting our daily hot meals for families in need, please reach out to firesupport@lasallehs.org or visit the Track-It Forward parent website.

School Counselors, Art Therapy, and Prayer Stations: From 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, our school counselors will be available for current students who need support throughout the week. The La Salle Art Department has also set up an art station for families to partake in. We will also have a prayer section in the Dining Hall for our community to gather in fellowship and prayer.

Student Fellowship and Service Opportunity: Due to the community’s overwhelming response, students who would like to engage in fellowship, service, and sharing a meal (courtesy of one of our food truck vendors) are welcome to do so during our Lancer Support Drive hours from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Please note that the campus is closed outside of these hours, and students will be asked to remain in the Dining Hall (for service), Atrium, or Amphitheater. We encourage students who are sensitive to air quality to wear a mask. We have masks available in the Dining Hall.

Therapy Puppies: On Thursday, January 16, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, there will be therapy puppies on campus in the Atrium for the community to play with and unwind. Students are welcome to campus to enjoy the therapy puppies.

Uniform Pick-Up

School uniform items will be available for pickup in the Dining Hall from Monday, January 13, to Friday, January 17, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM to allow any families affected by the fire to pick up items at no charge.

As we recover from the Eaton Fire, we understand that acquiring uniforms and other items will take time. We will not be enforcing school uniform rules and ask for students to dress in clothing resembling school uniforms as closely as possible. School uniform rules will be enforced no earlier than March.

Community Support Efforts

Please consider supporting our Lancer Support Fund if you are able to do so. These funds will be distributed to current La Salle students and families who have lost their homes during this disaster. Donations to the Lancer Support Fund are tax deductible as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization gift to La Salle.

If you haven’t already done so and were either impacted by the fires or would like to provide assistance to those who have been, please complete our La Salle Fire Assistance Form.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us directly at firesupport@lasallehs.org. All updates will also be posted to a dedicated page on our website at http://lasallehs.org/eatonfire. Thank you for your continued support of La Salle and one another.

Local Resources and Support

• 211LA - Temporary AirBnB Housing for those displaced by the fires: https://211la.org/

• LA County Fire Website - Latest information regarding evacuation areas, emergency text notifications, available shelters, and other resources: https://lacounty.gov/emergency/

• Watch Duty Fire App - Real-time updates and notifications regarding evacuations and other important information: https://www.watchduty.org/

• ABC7-LA Fire Resources Page - https://abc7.com/post/socal-wildfires-where-palisades-eaton-hurst-sunset-fire-victims-can-get-help/15780705/

• Free Mental Health Services - List of free individual and family therapy services for anyone affected by the wildfires, offering both virtual and in-person options: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10wW92iihuOtqK-qNKiH1t1xUZyZTWjpnRsr680Q-VV4/edit?usp=sharing
  

• Uber and Lyft - are offering free rides to shelters and evacuation sites:

  • Lyft: Two free rides up to $25 each. Use code: CAFIRERELIEF25.

  • Uber: Two free rides up to $40 each. Use code: WILDFIRE25.
    

• FEMA Disaster Response Resources: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4856

• LA County Eaton Fire Damage Map: https://recovery.lacounty.gov/eaton-fire/