Headshot against image of busy retail store

Avery Colvert

Tony Valentino for Altadena Girls (Avery Colvert); Shutterstock.com (background); Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images (donations)

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Out of the Ashes

After a wildfire tore through her community, Avery Colvert sprang into action to help her neighbors.

April 14, 2025
By Shay Maunz and the editors of Scholastic News

As You Read, Think About: Why did Avery Colvert want to help other teens after the wildfires?

In mid-January, people lined up outside a photography studio in Los Angeles, California. Inside, teen girls browsed racks of clothing and tables full of makeup, toiletries, and hair care products. 

Just a few miles away, fires raged through the areas where the girls once lived. Most had lost almost everything they owned.

Eighth-grader Avery Colvert’s home in Pasadena survived. But her middle school in nearby Altadena had been badly damaged by a blaze called the Eaton Fire. And many of Avery’s friends’ homes had burned down.

“The group text with my friends was really sad,” Avery says. “Every few hours for a few days, another girl’s house was gone.”

Avery wanted to help, so she created the Altadena Girls Instagram page. She asked for donations of the types of items her friends needed. She had no idea just how big her effort was about to become.

A Helping Hand

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

On January 7, wildfires ignited in the Los Angeles area (see “City on Fire”). The Palisades and Eaton fires were two of the most devastating blazes in California history. They destroyed more than 16,000 homes, schools, and other buildings. 

Across the city, shelters and donation sites provided necessities like food and bottled water. But Avery knew teen girls were also missing many other things that were part of their everyday lives. 

Feeling empathy for her friends and other teens, Avery started Altadena Girls on January 11.

“I’m focusing on items that will help my friends feel confident and like themselves again,” she wrote on Instagram. 

Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Teens browse donated items at the Altadena Girls shop in Los Angeles, California, in January.

Coming Together

Donations began pouring in almost immediately. A family friend let Avery use their photography studio. Within a day, it was filled with new clothes, shoes, and beauty products. 

“We were afraid we wouldn’t have enough for everybody, but the donations just never ended,” Avery recalls. “It was a miracle every day that more volunteers and stuff showed up!”

All those volunteers helped Avery sort through the donations and set up a “store.” Everything was free to teens whose homes had been destroyed by the fires. 

News about Altadena Girls spread quickly. Charli XCX mentioned the fundraiser on Instagram. Shipments soon arrived from Ariana Grande’s makeup brand. Other celebrities showed up to volunteer.

Hope for the Future

The shop ended up helping hundreds of girls replace some of what they had lost. And Avery’s project inspired others to start Altadena Boys. The organization provides new clothing and other items to boys whose homes were devastated by the fires.

After a few very busy days, Avery returned the studio to its owner. In February, she announced that Altadena Girls would move to a new location. Avery plans to turn the space into a community center with mental health help for girls affected by the fires. She hopes to set up music rooms, quiet rooms for homework, and more. 

“Don’t forget that our schools burned down too,” Avery says. “So there’s no more gym, field, or theater.”

What started as a free pop-up shop has grown into a permanent space for hope and healing.

“This was so much more than just free stuff,” Avery says. “I’ll never forget the faces and hugs and people that we helped those first few days.”

City on Fire

On January 7, the Palisades Fire broke out northwest of Los Angeles, California. Hours later, the Eaton Fire ignited. Strong winds and dry conditions helped the fires spread quickly. As firefighters battled the blazes, several smaller wildfires started.

  • The wildfires burned about 40,000 acres. That’s an area bigger than 30,000 football fields.
  • About 200,000 people were ordered to evacuate. Sadly, at least 29 people were killed.
  • By January 31, the wildfires were fully contained. As Scholastic News went to press, the official causes of the fires had not yet been determined. 

Chris Pizzello/AP Images

The Eaton Fire blazes in Altadena, California, on January 8. 

1. Based on the article and the sidebar, “City On Fire,” what were some of the effects of the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire?

2. What does Avery Colvert describe as a miracle? Why?

3. Summarize the main idea and key details of the section “Hope for the Future.”

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