The devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires has been deeply heartbreaking, leaving impacted communities with a long road to recovery. Amid the challenges, a beacon of hope has emerged in the generosity of neighbors across Los Angeles and nearby towns. From restaurants and hotels to members of the artistic and sports communities, countless individuals have stepped up to provide hot meals, shelter, and a sense of comfort.
From acts of kindness to organized efforts, here are some of the ways that locals have come together to help those in need.
L.A. Hotels Open Their Doors
The list of hotels offering discounts to wildfire-impacted locals is impressive and diverse. From airport accommodations to iconic landmarks like the Biltmore and the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, a wide range of Los Angeles–area hotels have stepped up to support those in need.
In the initial days of the crisis, the famous Chateau Marmont opened its cottages for complimentary two-night stays to support Los Angeles firefighters and members of entertainment-industry unions who were affected by the fires. Hilton Hotels has partnered with American Express and the non-profit organization 211 LA to provide 20,000 free nights to displaced people in need. Other hotels—including AC Hotels, Kimpton Hotel Wilshire, and Hotel Indigo Downtown—waived pet fees for those displaced. Some locals have taken matters into their own hands: The San Bernardino band Fuerza Regida rented an entire hotel from January 11–17 to house 50 families displaced by the wildfires and decorated the rooms with fun merch. In Anaheim, about 100 displaced Disney employees can stay for two months in furnished housing at the Disneyland hotels.
While specific terms vary (some offers were limited to the initial weeks of crisis, while others continue) these acts of hospitality provide crucial support during a difficult time.
Feeding Victims and First Responders
As people were displaced from their homes, Los Angeles restaurants jumped into action. They were joined by the World Central Kitchen, Chef José Andrés’ organization that works with area restaurants to feed impacted locals and first responders during crises. In Los Angeles, WCK was joined by some big names including Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken of Border Grill as well as taco-shop chain HomeState; the latter has also been accepting donations to deliver boxes of tacos to first responders and impacted locals. A couple dozen restaurants created LA Wildfire Community Meals; donors can browse the list (it includes places like Silver Lake favorite Sqirl) and donate to have a meal sent to victims or first responders, often in conjunction with WCK.
Other restaurants have launched their own efforts to keep fire victims and first responders fed. Local staples such as Pizzana, Din Tai Fung, Yeastie Boys Bagels, Habit Burger, and Piazza D'Angelo are offering free meals or donating a portion of their profits. California Donuts initiated a "Donut Drive" where people can donate $10 to fund a box of a dozen donuts to those impacted. Uncle Paulie’s Deli in West Hollywood set up a Venmo account, directing 100 percent of donations to meals for local heroes on the front lines. Highland Park Mexican restaurant Nativo launched its own donation drive and meal distribution center focused on "love, joy, and revolutionary care" for wildfire victims.
And the list goes on. Celebrity chef Brooke Baevsky joined forces with Los Angeles takeout spot Holy Smokes Kosher BBQ to raise $75,000 worth of meals for firefighters. Pasadena-based Sailor’s Brew Coffee partnered with an Altadena barbecue restaurant to offer a weekly Sunday breakfast, and encourages folks to donate to help rebuild Altadena’s longtime Little Red Hen Coffee Shop, which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire.
More than 400 Los Angeles restaurants will help raise funds for recovery during the upcoming Dine LA Restaurant Week (Jan. 24–Feb. 7). Book a table at any of the participating restaurants offering special menus, and $5 automatically goes to the American Red Cross, which gets matched by Banc of California.
Support From Local Attractions
The Getty Center was a focus of attention early in the wildfires, as the Getty Villa sustained damage to its grounds, though thankfully, not to the collections. Now, The Getty and a coalition of other museums—including the Hammer Museum, LACMA, and MOCA—have created the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund which will assist artists and arts workers who have lost homes or studios. Los Angeles artist Jake Longstreth launched his own effort, offering limited-edition prints of Paseo Colorado, which depict the Paseo shopping center in Pasadena. All proceeds went to GoFundMe accounts of artists who lost their homes, studios, or businesses in the Eaton Fire.
A smaller Altadena museum has found grassroots benefactors. The Bunny Museum—known for its quirky collection of bunny stuffies and collectibles—was destroyed by the Eaton Fire. But owners plan to rebuild, thanks in part to fans from around the world who have already pledged money (and bunny merch!) to help rebuild the collection.
A few theme parks are offering their own good vibes: Knott’s Berry Farm holds special firefighter and law enforcement discount days through Jan. 23, and SeaWorld San Diego is offering half-off one-day tickets for Los Angeles residents and a free ticket for first responders through March 31.
Looking ahead, the Altadena Seed Library—a network of seed exchange boxes—will help to replant the native habitat of Altadena’s Eaton Canyon. The seed library staff organized a tool drive for gardeners and locals who want to help with debris clean-up.
Benefit Concerts and Fundraisers
The arts community of Los Angeles is displaying its show business pluck with a variety of benefit concerts developing in the coming weeks.
LA Gives Back: Fire Relief will take place on Jan. 29 at The Bellwether (headliners are still TBD), with proceeds supporting fire victims, firefighters and first responders, and animal aid. On Jan. 30, two stages in Inglewood will host the FireAid Relief Concert. The lineup of shows at the Intuit Dome and Kia Forum features Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Green Day, Joni Mitchell, Gwen Stefani, Earth, Wind & Fire, Katy Perry, Lil Baby, P!nk, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Sting, and Dave Matthews with John Mayer. One of the first donations came from the Eagles and their manager Irving Azoff, who chipped in $2.5 million (Azoff is also one of the benefit’s producers).
And on Feb. 8, Dilla Day L.A.—an annual show in honor of late rapper and producer J. Dilla, hosted by his mother Ma Dukes—will now be a benefit at The Beehive for the victims of the Eaton fire. The lineup will feature Slum Village, Frank-N-Dank, Guilty Simpson, Phat Kat, Wild Child of Lootpack, Shortkut, Daru Jones, and J. Rocc of the Beat Junkies.
Twelve professional sports organizations—including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Anaheim Ducks, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Rams—pledged a total of more than $8 million for organizations such as the American Red Cross, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, California Fire Foundation, Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund, and World Central Kitchen. They also partnered with Fanatic to distribute school supplies, sneakers, and fan merch to displaced locals.
Retailers Step Up
Stores around Los Angeles, from big chains to indie boutiques, are ready to help locals get necessities. Several stores at several Caruso malls—from Nespresso at The Americana at Brand to La La Land Kind Café at The Grove—are offering discounts and donations for displaced residents. In Costa Mesa, luxury mall South Coast Plaza has pledged a $1 million donation for relief and long-term recovery efforts, giving to organizations including the California Community Foundation, Baby2Baby, and Pasadena Humane Society. “The scale of suffering and devastation caused by the fires has been shocking, heartbreaking, and immense,” read a statement from the shopping center and its owners, the Segerstrom family. “But the efforts to help those in need have been equally extraordinary.”
Los Angeles–based retailers offered their own kinds of support. Eyewear company Akila, which has locations in Silver Lake and Downtown Los Angeles, offered a free replacement pair of prescription glasses for anyone who lost their glasses in the fires. Los Angeles–based athleisure brand SET, meanwhile, raised $40,000, turned their office into a donation center, and donated thousands of pieces of apparel to families in need.
Some stores also offer a peaceful place for folks to take a moment to collect themselves. In Pasadena, Octavia’s Bookshop, a woman-owned store that showcases the works of BIPOC authors, has become a resource center for displaced locals who need a phone charge, water, blankets, or other essentials. Nearby, fashion brand Eckhaus Latta co-designer Zoe Latta opened a resource center and soup kitchen in her in-laws' Pasadena winery tasting room, to provide meals and assistance.
Just down the street from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood Toy & Costumes is donating toys for displaced kids who lost their own. Plus, a variety of Los Angeles galleries and stores—like Noto Botanics in Highland Park, the Free People headquarters in Santa Monica, The Suay Sew Shop in Downtown Los Angeles, and Elementi in Pasadena—have opened pop-up "free shops" with clothes, toys and more for displaced people.
One of the most famous initiatives is Altadena Girls, launched by a 14-year-old to get clothes, personal items, and beauty products items to girls who have lost everything. The group went viral thanks to support from celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Ariana Grande, Mindy Kaling, and Charli XCX.
Kindness From Nearby Neighbors
Cities and towns both north and south of Los Angeles have welcomed displaced locals too. In Santa Barbara, many hotels are offering discounts—including the Hotel Santa Barbara, which is extending a 20 percent discount to fire victims. Various shops provided discounts or made donations, such as Idyll Mercantile (15 percent of purchases), Oat Bakery (free treats), and Ace Rivington (free clothing).
Destinations across Southern California have offered their own lists of discounted hotels for displaced Angelenos, including Visit Anaheim, San Diego Tourism Authority, Visit Laguna Beach, Visit Santa Monica, Discover Torrance, Visit Big Bear, Visit Temecula, Visit Greater Palm Springs, and Travel Costa Mesa. Visit Huntington Beach even extends their hospitality to Los Angeles residents who need a place for their horses.
San Francisco’s restaurant world is pitching in too, with a wide range of fundraising events in January, like a bake sale by pie pop-up Ovinloven on Jan. 26.