One by one, cars, SUVs and trucks were pulling up nonstop to the entrance of Loyola High on Thursday, dropping off food, clothing, toiletries, games — anything and everything a family might need that lost everything to the fires devastating Los Angeles.
“This is magical. This is the fabric what we are,” said Loyola principal Jamal Adams, whose grandmother lost her home in Altadena.
Three Loyola basketball players lost their homes in the Palisades fire, along with the team manager. One of those players, senior Patrick Csiszar, had nothing left but the backpack he was carrying. He started picking out sweatshirts, T-shirts and other clothes in Caruso Hall.
“The feeling of not having anything is not something I’ve felt before,” he told teammates, sharing what it meant to lose his family’s home and all his belongings.
Kai Klein said his grandparents, residents of Palisades for 80 years, and his uncle lost their homes in the Palisades. His father, Patrick, was waiting to see the fate of his family home.
“All the stuff that’s special — it’s all gone,” Klein told his teammates. “All we’ve ever known is gone.”
Quincy Watson said the homes of his mother and father in Palisades were destroyed. His mother was able to save one thing for him — his jersey. His beloved outside portable basketball hoop in the front yard was no more. “I want the rim to keep as a memory of the house,” he said.
Coach Damaine Powell brought his team together to hold a practice on Thursday after consulting with parents. The decision was to let everyone come together to support each other instead of being isolated. Loyola was supposed to play in a basketball event on Friday at Intuit Dome, but it has been postponed because many teams are dealing with family losses and practice disruptions.
Assistant principal Paul Jordan was given the task of putting together donations on Wednesday since Loyola has dozens of current students and alumni living in the areas affected by the fires. He and Adams were astonished how rapidly the Loyola community responded.
“The mobilization of support has been amazing,” Adams said.
Students were seen carrying water bottles, food and clothing as cars dropped off supplies.
Seniors were involved in senior projects Tuesday morning when word spread about a fire in the Palisades. Senior Merik Bernstein has gone through many evacuations, but the strong winds were different.
“The first night, I was still in shock. I didn’t want to think about losing my house,” he said.
Watson is staying with a teammate in Marina del Rey. Others are staying in hotels, waiting to learn when they can go back to see if they can find anything left from the rubble.
“We need to keep our faith in God and stay strong,” Watson told his teammates.
Those walking into Caruso Hall to see all the supplies donated were inspired.
“It’s overwhelming,” Adams said of the donations.