LA is home, let's show up.

Our business was born in LA, and so was I. The recent fires have devastated our community, taking homes, studios, and years of creative work. One of our longtime collaborators, Neen Choplin—the artist behind the Elbow pipe—lost both their home and studio in the fire. Their garage-turned-studio held childhood keepsakes, years of collected art, and an entire unpublished body of new work, including large-scale sculptural lamps. Their kiln, wheel, and all the tools they had used for over seven years were also lost.

In the wake of this loss, Neen has chosen to direct all proceeds from the sales of their piece not to personal recovery, but to mutual aid—specifically to Black families who have historically made up the largest population of the Altadena neighborhood. One powerful organization doing this work is Abolitionist Sanctuary, which is helping folks with housing and rebuilding. You can support them directly here: Abolitionist Sanctuary

Beyond Neen, many others in our extended Flower Pot community have been deeply affected. Our friend Anna Yeager Bresnitz, a mother of two, lost her home but has channeled her grief into action, organizing resources to support those in need. If you're able, you can contribute to the Eaton Fire GoFundMe List, a collective effort to help all families in Altadena who have lost their homes, with the shared goal of getting them back on their feet. Eaton Fire GoFundMe List

Additionally, Altadena Arts Magnet has multiple wishlists to support displaced families and students:

• Main Wishlist
• After School Program Wishlist
• Kinder Wishlist

Another friend of TFP, Ellen Bennett, lost her childhood home, her mother’s home. She also shared the Altadena Disaster Recovery Center, which is a helpful in-person resource for those navigating FEMA, SBA, and other recovery services:

Altadena Disaster Recovery Center
540 W. Woodbury Road
Altadena, CA 91001

For those in the culinary world, Jess Damuck has started a kitchen kit roundup to help fire victims restock essential tools, partnering with quality brands to replace lost kitchenware. If you or someone you know needs support, you can request a kit here: Kitchen Kit Request Form

And finally, our longtime friend and acupuncturist, Lyndsey Madden, is organizing care kits for families through Amazon registries: Care Kits for Families

We know times are tough for so many, but if you’re able, even the smallest contribution can help those starting from square one. Whether by purchasing Neen’s piece, donating directly, or sharing these resources, we can make a collective impact.

With love & gratitude,

Rebecca Kershberg
Chief Flower Girl

Text: +1 ‪(503) 583-4472‬
Email: hi@theflowerpot.co