Friends and neighbors:
I welcome several new community members to this email list, and I thank them for volunteering to join the effort. Here is the latest news about the family's condition and the upcoming Meier Street fundraiser:
1. Maria and Luna were released from the hospital Sunday and are recovering well. Luna is staying with friends close to her school and Maria is staying with her sister-in-law in the Lancaster area for the time being, as it is closer to the burn center and she still needs assistance throughout the day. It is hoped that Luna will be able to start back to school next week, and Maria is considering living spaces on Meier Street so she can be close to her neighbors and friends. We are grateful to all those who have offered housing and it is hoped the family will be reunited soon. Unfortunately Jose's fragile condition is mostly unchanged; he remains heavily sedated at the burn center where he underwent some skin and lung treatments yesterday. Our thoughts are with him as he struggles to recover.
2. Both the family's cats have now been located and are being tenderly cared for. They are still understandably skittish but are being fed and monitored.
3. THE FRIENDS OF LUNA WEBSITE http://www.friendsofluna.com is now up and operational! It contains updates on the family's story as well as a PayPal donation link for those who'd like to contribute funds online and information on donating to the family's trust fund by check (see below.)
4. ONLINE DONATIONS: If you would like to donate directly from your PayPal account, debit/credit card, or direct bank withdrawal, you can either hit the button at the bottom of the http://www.friendsofluna.com page, or--if you don't already have a PayPal account--you can go PayPal.com and "Sign Up" for an account. Once you've created an account, hit the "Send Money" link and enter donate@friendsofluna.com as the destination email address for your contribution. That money will be deposited into the trust account set up for the family. Thanks to Sarah for getting the website and online donation links happening, and so fast!
5. DONATIONS BY CHECK: For those who would prefer to write a check to the trust account, make them payable to "The Estigarrivia Albertini Family Trust" and mail directly to John P Ziaukas, Attorney at Law, 12011 San Vicente Boulevard, Suite 530, Los Angeles, California 90049 for deposit. Jose, Maria and Luna are the sole beneficiaries of this account and we are grateful to John and Loren for arranging it.
6. DONATIONS FOR MEIER STREET FUNDRAISER, 3/27: We are seeking 1) DONATIONS OF NEW ITEMS, GIFT CARDS, AND GIFT CERTIFICATES to be sold at the live auction or given as game prizes, and 2) DONATED GOODS TO SELL at the multi-family garage sale. Please contact Jennifer Hemsley
7. WE WILL SOON HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE and hope you will "Friend" us! Please assist the donation and publicity effort by spreading the word through your social networks. We'll send that info when the page is live.
8. MARCH 27TH DATE FOR MEIER STREET FUNDRAISER CONFIRMED. Plans are afoot for a live auction at 1 p.m., a Meier Street Kids Bake Sale, face-painting and henna artistry, games, music, and more! Please contact me, Elizabeth Oakes, if you'd like to donate services to the fundraiser; we would be especially grateful for musicians, street entertainers, photographers, and others who are interested in donating their time or services to help raise funds. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR A FOOD TRUCK TO PARK AT THE END OF THE STREET AND DONATE A PORTION OF THEIR TAKE TO THE FAMILY. Other ideas are welcome, please drop me a line.
9. Finally, thanks to our local Mar Vista quilters who have offered to donate quilts for the family. These quilts are made by volunteers and are given to those who need comfort in a time of need, and they are a beautiful and meaningful gift. I have not been given the quilters' names, but they know who they are. :) We are grateful for the work of their hands and their hearts.
Please feel free to forward this email and/or repost information to your websites, blogs, or Facebook/Twitter accounts. We need all the help and donations we can find, so please spread the word!
If anyone you know would like to be added to this update email list, please have them email me at marryme@marriagetogo.com. THANKS, more news as plans develop.
Kind Regards,
Elizabeth Oakes