The Out of the Ashes organization is a group of volunteers who live in San Diego. The group is made up of many individuals who lost their homes in the Cedar Fire in 2003. For more about our organization, please click here. 

The Home Loss File System is a box designed to keep all papers, documents, receipts, and handouts amassed by fire survivors in one organized place.  The box is portable and can be taken anywhere.

Once all supplies have either been ordered online or purchased locally, it takes approximately an hour.  It is a significantly shorter process if done by a group (a community organization, for example) that has an assembly line of volunteers who are building multiple boxes together.

Content is coming soon.

If the supplies are purchased from Amazon, cost (except for the physical file box) is around $15 to put one together. Then add in the cost for a file box which varies from $8 -$16. If a group is assembling multiple boxes, the cost is substantially lower through buying in bulk or wholesale.  Some companies may be open to donating the supplies or providing the materials at their cost. In large quantities, cost to assemble one box is approximately $14-18 including the file box.  Details can be found here.

All supplies needed to create a box are listed on the website.  Look on the navigation bar under the tab titled “Build a Box” and scroll to the dropdown that says, “Supplies needed for assembly”.  We have included a link to AMAZON, where we have all the needed supplies in one place to make a single or few boxes and supplies to make a larger quantity (100+).  Details can also be found here.

Typically, small file boxes (with or without top and handle) are: 10-11” H X 13” W X 10″D OR larger filing storage crate/box size is: 10” H X 13” W X 16” D.

Absolutely feel free to add other names for file folders or sections or delete.  The current suggested titles have come from other disaster survivors who felt these tabs were the most helpful. 

Our volunteer group provides information on how to create and assemble a Home Loss File System box.  Unfortunately, we don’t have assembled boxes for sale. 

Yes, this information is listed on the website.  Please look on the navigation bar under the heading “Build a Box” for step-by-step instructions.              

Step-by-step instructions can also be found here.

You may want to consider connecting with a local group of volunteers to help with their project in your area.  Among the various ways you can assist, you might consider:

• helping with the assembly or distribution of the boxes
• helping raise funds for the purchase of the supplies
• helping to spread the word to the community about where the boxes can be found
• helping at the Local Assistance Center (if one has been set up) in your area
• calling the volunteer “hotline” that is commonly found after such a disaster and ask how your services may be helpful

These are just a few ways you can assist.

Through 2019, our volunteer group has assisted various community organizations and companies create, assemble, and distribute 2,700 Home Loss File System boxes.

We have asked fire survivors who received a box to fill out a questionnaire asking what they found useful, as well as what we could improve upon.  We listened to these folks and have modified the boxes accordingly. Please visit the navigation bar “Shared Experiences” to see testimonials. Needless to say, the boxes have been VERY well-received.

Please visit “Our Story” in the navigation bar to locate the “Donate“ link. All contributions received through the website are secure.  Donations received go toward maintaining and updating the website and web hosting.  Large donations will be used to create a digital app of the Home Loss File System in the future.

Information is listed under the “CONTACT US” section on the website. Feel free to contact Barbara through email at: Homelossfilesystem@gmail.com or by phone at: 858-442-6835.