In the weeks leading up to the holidays, many streets in Pacific Palisades carry a quiet weight. Cleared lots—once homes—can feel especially somber during a season traditionally defined by warmth and light.
Out of that contrast came a simple, powerful idea.
One of our Community Advisors, Kim Garvin Ferrier, a Palisades fire survivor whose family lost six homes in the fire, looked around and felt that the landscape didn’t reflect the spirit of recovery she knows lives here. Rather than accept that heaviness, she imagined a single symbolic gesture—one point of light—on each burned lot.
From that idea, the “Light Your Lot” campaign was born.
Kim discovered small, solar-powered, lit Christmas trees that could be placed on cleared parcels as a visible sign of hope, resilience, and continuity. She brought the concept to the Palisades Recovery Coalition, envisioning them as a free, symbolic giveaway to fire-impacted households—simple, dignified, and meaningful.
The idea immediately resonated.
With generous support from Dept. of Angels, who loved the creativity and intention behind the proposal, PRC was able to fund and launch the campaign. Just days after its launch, the response from the community has been overwhelming. Neighbors are stopping by, sharing stories, and placing these lights not as decorations, but as markers of presence and perseverance.
Due to the strong response, we are now ordering additional trees and expanding the giveaway to include solar-powered stars as well. Both will be available—free of charge—at PRC headquarters:
Palisades Recovery Coalition
15233 La Cruz Dr, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
This campaign is a reminder that recovery isn’t only about permits, plans, and timelines. It’s also about morale, imagination, and the small acts that help us see one another—and ourselves—moving forward.
We are deeply proud of Kim’s vision, grateful to Dept. of Angels for their support, and honored to help steward initiatives like this that reflect the heart of Pacific Palisades. The “Light Your Lot” campaign is just one example of how this community continues to meet devastation with creativity, compassion, and resolve—nearly one year out, and still standing together.
If you’d like to participate, stop by PRC, pick up a light, and help illuminate the path ahead—one lot at a time.