Pasadena teen sets up prom dress giveaway for Eaton Fire survivors

With teens navigating high school in the wake of the Eaton Fire, a Pasadena teen organized a free event to help girls prepare for prom and graduation.

"Seeing my community go through so much, I really was inspired to help out," 16-year-old Lucia Flores-Rojas said. "At first, I had decided to make this for the Altadena girls to restore some normalcy and have this element of excitement for their high school event, prom."

The Eaton Fire displaced thousands of people, including Flores-Rojas, after leveling entire neighborhoods in Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre. After it destroyed 9,418 buildings, it became the second-most destructive fire in California history. 

As her communities continue to rebuild and recover, Flores-Rojas partnered with the Princess Project and the STARS program to organize a pop-up shop inside the Montrose Church in Pasadena. After setting an appointment, students could choose from a selection of prom and graduation dresses, accessories and makeup.

"It means a lot to just know that I can help out my community in some way," Flores-Rojas said. "Seeing everything that happened just affected me emotionally and so I just want to do the best I can to help my peers and my loved ones."