Thursday, January 1, 2026

Altadena Library Turns to Culinary Program for Fire Recovery

Monthly spice kits offer unconventional approach to trauma healing in community rebuilding after Eaton Fire

While fire-affected communities typically focus on mental health counseling and housing assistance, the Altadena Library District is taking a different path to trauma recovery: teaching residents to cook with exotic spices. 

Starting Jan. 2, the Bob Lucas Memorial Library will distribute monthly spice kits as part of a five-month program library officials designed to be accessible, joyful and community-building during a year of continued healing. 

The Spice Club runs through May 2026. Each month features a different spice with samples and two recipe cards. January’s featured ingredient is sumac, a tangy Middle Eastern spice with lemony tartness. 

The program launches seven months after the library’s grand reopening. The facility survived the January 2025 Eaton Fire despite wooden construction, prompting community investment in a $4.5 million renovation funded by Measure Z, a 2020 local bond measure. 

Adults 18 and older can pick up free kits during regular business hours at the Bob Lucas Memorial Library and Literacy Center, 2659 Lincoln Avenue. No registration is required. Supplies are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The library opens at 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, closing at 6 p.m. most days. Wednesday and Thursday hours extend to 8 p.m. 

District Director Nikki Winslow has overseen operations since November 2019. The library completed its 16-month renovation in August 2025, adding 1,000 square feet and expanding the facility by 50 percent. 

The Spice Club exists within a broader wellness programming framework. The district has partnered with community organizations including Hollywood Food Coalition, Children of One Planet and Pulse Arts for post-fire recovery initiatives. 

Other programs include somatic movement workshops, grief healing circles, food distribution and memory scrapbooking for fire survivors. A mental health fair is also planned. 

The drop-in format eliminates barriers to participation. Officials structured the program for maximum accessibility during the community recovery period.

February’s spice will be lavender. The district has not yet announced selections for March through May. 

The Altadena Library District operates as an independent special district, separate from Pasadena Public Library. A five-member elected Board of Trustees governs the district, with Kameelah Waheed Wilkerson serving as board president. 

The Bob Lucas library will be closed Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day. Regular operations resume Jan. 2 when the first spice kits become available.