When Amanda Sanchez heard of the raging wildfires in Los Angeles, she did not hesitate to
think about ways she could help the thousands of people affected.
Sanchez is the owner of La Mesa’s Fit4Mom, which offers moms fitness classes with
kids in tow. Along with another San Diego franchise owner, the duo set out to make a
difference.
With Sanchez’ home serving as the collection point, they filled two U-Haul trucks with
donations, ranging from toiletries and clothes to toys and non-perishable food items.
Sanchez says that being a mom makes her see and react to things differently now.
“It pulled on our heartstrings,” she says, adding that it’s important for her to model being a good
example for her daughter and to give back.
On Sunday of that same week, Sanchez and her friend made the nearly three-hour drive up to
Los Angeles to deliver the items to the non-profit organization It’s Bigger than Us.
“It’s inspiring how much of an impact we made together,” Sanchez said.
This inspiration fueled her desire to also help when the Border 2 Fire ignited in
the Otay Mountain Wilderness area of San Diego County.
Sanchez, with the help of other members of her community, meal-prepped 60 burritos for the
firefighters battling the blaze.
“They loved them!” she says, thinking back to the time when she meal-prepped the same burritos
for herself to have on hand when her daughter was born. “This is the kind of stuff I live for. It lights a light inside me.”