After the Eaton Fire, Judy felt left in the dark, lost, devastated and started to experience anxiety. While her home was not completely lost, it was unhabitable in its current condition. Within the next three days after the fire, she returned to work despite everything, but was unable to focus, sleep, or eat well. Due to this, Judy decided to resign from her job after a month. She had planned to retire later in the year, but felt that she needed to begin this new chapter earlier than expected for her mental wellness.
During this period of uncertainty, a friend told her about Foothill Unity Center—a food bank that assisted with groceries, toiletries, and more. While visiting the Pasadena location, a volunteer kindly directed Judy to Alicia, the lead case worker. Alicia worked with Judy and told her that not only did she qualify for groceries through weekly food distributions, but also a wildfire grant as well. For her and her husband, this grant helped pay for the mortgage of their home as they lived temporarily in a rental.
As of February 2026, a year later, their home is nearly finished and ready to welcome them back.