The November 2018 Camp Fire destroyed 18,000 structures, killed 86 people and left 42,000 people homeless (and many jobless) in a 24-hour timeframe. But it wasn’t the charred landscape that left Alyssa, a single mother of three young children, devastated. It was watching so many elderly and underinsured individuals forced to live in tents and cars after losing everything. Her tragic experience of losing her own home in a wildfire in 2008 inspired her to do more. Alyssa, who had no construction experience and was working a full-time job, was called to build and give away tiny homes. She began researching and watching YouTube videos on how to build tiny homes. She personally built and funded the first tiny home in January 2019 and gifted it to a survivor and her daughter two months later. Since then, she has helped countless families by bringing together individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based groups to volunteer and donate.

By creating the Tiny Pine Foundation. Alyssa hopes to continue to expand her mission to give back to communities in need through a variety of projects and partnerships.

John officially joined our team in September 2021, but he and his wife have been supporting Tiny Pine Foundation since day one. After spending 20 years in manufacturing and production, John has spent the last ten years working in the nonprofit sector for various organizations. John moved to Butte County in 2014 when he and his wife started a church in Oroville. Over the last several years John has become heavily involved in disaster relief through church efforts, and partnering with other organizations, including Tiny Pine Foundation. During this time he also served as the Director of Nonprofit Services for the Elijah House Foundation, helping to establish a variety of services including mental health and substance use treatment, employment development programs, emergency housing, rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing projects. John has served on various boards for nonprofits and currently sits on the Butte County Continuum of Care council as well as the Bear Fire Long-Term Recovery Group.

Renee' has been an active member of Butte County her whole life and has a love for people in general. After watching the devastation of 2018's Camp Fire unfold, she felt the urge to help how she could. Since the Camp Fire happened right before Thanksgiving, Renee' felt led to hold a Community Thanksgiving Dinner, not only for Camp Fire survivors, but for the community as a whole to connect and fellowship. On a day most normally reflect on what to be grateful for, she knew that year's Thanksgiving meal would take on a more special meaning of gratitude. Her Camp Fire community Thanksgiving event went viral! From large businesses to small families, donations poured in from near and far, and so did the volunteers! The dinner served 1700 meals in Oroville, Durham, and Yuba City. Renee' also helped coordinate a combined donation of over $52,000 that went to a local nonprofit with a mission to help others!
Renee' officially joined our team in January 2022 and is excited to be part of Tiny Pine's mission! She looks forward to using her networking and project management skills and hopes to be a blessing in her new role.