The recent LA wildfires have devastated the community, emptying the streets of countless families, (and Mandy Moore’s), looking for safer sanctuary. The Moore’s Altadena neighborhood, which began burning last Tuesday, devastated Moore’s family, and when they finally returned home, they found it uninhabitable. In this tragedy, their celebrity friend, Hilary Duff, and husband Matthew Koma have come forward to provide assistance and refuge.
The pair made Moore, her family, and her husband’s family feel welcome home putting them up in their home to help uplift and heal them in these difficult times. But their kindness did not stop there. Duff and Koma have also launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to help Moore’s brother-in-law, Griffin Goldsmith, and his wife, who have been forced to leave their home and anticipate the arrival of their first child in only six weeks.
A Gesture of Unmatched Generosity
Griffin Goldsmith, from the band Dawes, is profoundly grateful for Duff and Koma’s remarkable beneficence. In an emotional Instagram, he posted, “Our dear friends Matthew Koma and Hilary Duff thought it’d be a good idea to start a GoFundMe for us, they’ve been taking care of all of us since this started. I will never be able to thank them adequately. This is one of the kindest thing a human could do to another.
The fundraising effort has attracted tremendous support and already raised $205,000. Griffin described the overwhelming response as deeply moving, adding, “I can’t talk or think about it without crying.”.
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Moore Speaks Out
Mandy Moore has also gone on to social media updating the level of damage left by the Eaton Fire in Altadena. Posting photos and videos of the charred remnants of her neighborhood, Moore revealed the heartbreaking losses suffered by her family and community.
“We lost our garage and back house. Everyone we know lost everything. Every house on our street is gone. My in-laws. My brother and sister-in-law (6 weeks before their first child is born). Our best friends. Feeling weird survivor’s guilt. We also adore this group and anything we could do to help restore and support will be done, wrote Moore.
Wildfires Continue to Ravage California
The wildfires raging across Southern California have wreaked havoc on multiple communities, with Altadena and Pasadena among the hardest hit. The Eaton Fire has been destructive in its wake, the Palisades Fire is still under a majority and partial containment, and continues to be threatening.
As of Tuesday, officials reported 35% containment of the Eaton Fire and 17% containment of the Palisades Fire. Unfortunately, at least 24 lives have already been lost in wildfires that are still raging due to changes in wind and dry conditions. And with the threat escalating—A new burn, the Ventura Auto Fire, has run more than 50 acres. Emergency services are on 24/7 duty to fight the fire riot, but containment efforts are becoming more difficult day by day.
A Community United in Rebuilding
Even though there are huge challenges, kindness and solidarity are shining through. These stories exemplify the strength and solidarity of those impacted by these commendable efforts of Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma and the overwhelming response from the community in both of these efforts by way of the GoFundMe campaign.
As Southern California grapples with the aftermath of these wildfires, the focus remains on supporting survivors, rebuilding communities, and honoring the courage of emergency responders who continue to fight the flames.
