Southern California Wildfires: Crowdfunding for Three Booksellers Who Lost Their Homes

Gofundme campaigns have been launched for at least three booksellers who lost homes in the Los Angeles wildfires two weeks ago.

One is for John Evans and Alison Reid, who for many years owned Diesel Bookstores in the Bay Area and Southern California and now own Camino Books in Del Mar. (When they sold the Diesel store in Brentwood last year, they changed the name of the Del Mar store to Camino Books.) Their home in Pacific Palisades was lost, and the campaign, organized by PRH sales rep Tom Benton, aims to raise $10,000. Benton wrote in part, "Alison and John have enhanced their communities with each of the Diesel Bookstores and now Camino Books in Del Mar. In fact, wherever they are, you'll find community--of books, ideas, and friendship.... I have been friends with Alison and John for decades, and I know there are many people in the book community who can say the same.

"Many of us have shared a drink, a meal, or even a concert (countless Springsteen shows for me) with Alison and John. While we are so grateful for their friendship and the good times, we now look to help them in this hardest of tasks, reconstructing all that they have lost. Please support them if you can as they travel the difficult road ahead."

Evans wrote to Shelf Awareness, "FEMA and our insurance company seem to be acting in good faith, with lots of paperwork, along with all else leaving us dazed and confused.... I take great strength from all the heartfelt kindnesses of people on the street, local media, FEMA workers, firefighters, volunteer aid workers. It's a wonder to see."

Another Gofundme campaign has been set up for Tom Rogers, owner of the Book Alley, a used bookstore in Pasadena, whose home in Altadena was destroyed. Organized by Bea Goodwin, a Book Alley bookseller, the campaign plans to raise $70,000 to help the family "towards rebuilding their lives--clothing, furniture, housing, you name it." She called Rogers "a charismatic, compassionate boss and loving father to two boys who work at our store" and noted that "the Rogers family selflessly used the last moments they could helping neighbors evacuate and took nothing with them but their vehicles and husky."

Rogers wrote: "Thank you so very much to everyone who has contributed here, known and unknown to me. It is deeply appreciated. I, and my family, are sincerely touched by this help at this time and the expressions of affection for our book store, Book Alley. The contributions will help us keep the store functioning as well as increasing the likelihood that we are able to return to beautiful Altadena and be part of its rebuilding."

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