The Paper Rabbit Donates Time and Gold Ornaments to Help St. Mark’s School Rebuild After Eaton Fire

“When the snow starts to fall over Montrose’s pink‑lit The Paper Rabbit, the shop’s workers are already busy crafting a different kind of sparkle—gold ornaments that will bring a touch of Christmas back to families who lost homes in the Eaton Fire.”

“The Paper Rabbit, a local boutique known for its pastel pink interior, has become a seasonal hub for creativity. Inside, bright lights and hand‑crafted displays set the tone for a holiday season that feels both intimate and generous.”

“Anneke Greco, a longtime customer, praised the team’s dedication: \”They are amazing. The girls are so creative, they’re so talented,\” she said. \”They put so much effort into each and every ornament and it really shows.\””

“The current project involves decorating 220 custom ornaments for the students and staff of St. Mark’s School in Altadena, a community still grappling with the aftermath of the devastating Eaton Fire.”

“St. Mark’s campus was destroyed in the fire, and many of its students and faculty lost their homes as well, leaving the school’s community in a state of shock and displacement.”

“Stephen Sachs, whose children attend St. Mark’s, recalled pulling out ornaments to start decorating his Christmas tree when he spotted a 2019 St. Mark’s ornament. He remembered his wife’s words: \”For all those that lost, maybe we can find a way to bring a little bit of Christmas back.\””

“Motivated by that sentiment, Sachs reached out to The Paper Rabbit with a proposal: if the shop could donate the ornaments, could they also donate the time and effort to decorate 220 ornaments for the school’s students and staff? He added, \”We thought, well, let’s see if we can get everybody in the community and the staff an ornament to commemorate this year, to begin a small step towards building back.\””

“The Paper Rabbit agreed, with owner Danielle Smith expressing empathy for the affected families. \”Of course we said yes. I wanted to do it and donate our time toward that,\” Smith said. \”It’s just such a nice thing to do for people who have lost their homes or been displaced in the fires.\””

“Several employees are now hand‑crafting each gold ornament, embellishing them with the year 2025 and the school’s new mantra: \”Forward Together.\” The meticulous process involves hand‑painting, gilding, and attaching personalized ribbons.”

“Smith reflected on the symbolism: \”I think that is just such a nice thing for the families to go forward and not look back on what happened, but to go forward and put beautiful things on their tree again,\” she said. \”It will be nostalgic for them.\””

“Sachs added, \”That’s what makes them beautiful and that’s what makes them unique. There are families that lost everything. You know, their houses are gone, and this is a small step toward that rebuild.\””

Key Takeaways

• 220 gold ornaments being crafted for St. Mark’s School.
• The project follows the Eaton Fire that destroyed the campus and displaced many families.
• The Paper Rabbit’s employees are donating time and creativity to help rebuild community spirit.

By turning their craft into a gesture of solidarity, The Paper Rabbit has turned a quiet shop into a beacon of hope for a community still healing. Each gold ornament, though simple in appearance, carries the weight of resilience and the promise that, together, they can move forward.