I M PA C T S TO R Y
One
MOMENT IN TIME
All it took was one moment for everything to change. Allison Barnes, Delta Iota-California State University, Chico, had been impacted by wildfires before. After all, living in California, she was no longer surprised by them. But this evening felt different. The evacuation notice came at 11:30 p.m. Within 90 minutes, Allison and her parents packed up everything they could manage—family photos, food and toys for the dogs, a small bag of clothes, a record player and some family heirlooms. Already reeling from the loss of a job due to COVID-19, the tightening of finances meant moving back in with her parents. Allison couldn’t bear the thought of another mounting loss. Yet at 7 a.m., Allison and her family received official word—the house was gone. In disbelief Allison was numb. “I cried upon finding out,” she said. “But afterward all you can tell yourself is to be thankful that you and your family made it out okay, because that truly is what matters.”
6 6
The Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation stepped in and provided Allison a Disaster Relief Grant so she could immediately replace urgent items such as work clothing and everyday necessities. “Having the quick support of the Foundation brought a huge sigh of relief.” Today, Allison is back at work in a temporary role until business comes back full swing.
