By LAURA JOHNSTONE

My name is Laura (Trask) Johnstone and my family has owned a cabin and land in the Pecos for more than 60 years and through four generations.

My grandfather, Wesley Trask, worked at the lab beginning in 1947 and our family has been tied to Los Alamos since. My parents, grandmother, brother and wife, my husband and two girls and I reside here today.

The Pecos Wilderness has always been coveted because of its pristine and rugged beauty. My dad and grandfather built our cabin (my grandfather was great at acquiring discarded supplies needed here in town) and it has been a family treasure ever since. My brother and I, many family members and my now high school aged girls have all spent a good portion of our lives up there.

Therefore, the area that is burning is a part of us and also so many others who have been blessed to know it.

As we feel helpless here, I would like to start a collection for immediate needs expressed by the firefighters. A collection point is being set up at Pet Pangaea in Los Alamos and I plan to create a bank account for the cause tomorrow at Los Alamos National Bank and perhaps find a location in White Rock for donations.

We will deliver the supplies to Pecos as they come available.

MEDICAL:

• Wet wipes-individual packages
• Ibuprofen/Tylenol
• Chapstick
• Sunscreen
• Saline solution
• Antibiotic cream
• Band aids
• Tissue/toilet paper

LIQUIDS:

• Individually bottled water
• Individually bottled Gatorade/Powerade

FOOD:

• Tuna fish-packaged in bags, pop top cans
• Crackers
• Nuts
• Dried fruit
• Power bars (cliff bars, etc.)
• Peanut butter
• Instant ramen noodles in cups
• Trail mix, chex-mix, chips
• (Other protein foods that don’t require special storage, refrigeration or much preparation)
• Chewing gum
• Jerkey-beef etc.