Evacuation shelters provided necessities like food and water—but what about things like clothes and makeup? Avery knew those items could help girls regain a sense of normalcy.
Avery created the Altadena Girls Instagram page and asked for donations of new clothing, beauty products, and other items for teen girls. Then she created the free “store.” Within a day, the space was filled with donations. Charli XCX called the fundraiser “the coolest” on Instagram. Shipments arrived from Ariana Grande’s makeup brand. Cars filled with teens lined the streets outside.
“The vibe was fast, fun, inspiring, warm, loving, sometimes a little sad or a little scary,” Avery says. “We were afraid that we wouldn’t have enough for everybody, but the donations just never ended.”
After a few fast-paced days, Avery had to return the studio to its owners. She put the donations in storage and began searching for a permanent home for Altadena Girls. Her goal is to grow the project into a community space with homework rooms, music rooms, and mental health resources for teen girls affected by the fires.
“This was so much more than just free stuff,” Avery says. “This was a tiny bit of closure, a light at the end of the tunnel. I’ll never forget the faces and hugs, and people that we helped those first few days.”
—Shay Maunz