Americans began evacuating their homes and businesses this week as California's wildfires raged and wiped out entire communities in five counties.
Firefighters, law enforcement and civilians worked together to contain the blaze as thousands of people lost their homes, while local shelters and organizations distributed food and supplies and provided roofs over the heads of those seeking refuge. are.
“A lot of these communities are like ghost towns,” LA Dream Center founder Matthew Barnett told Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview. (See the video at the top of this article.)
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“We're just trying to provide all kinds of solutions. Because of housing, finance is obviously important,” he said.
The LA Dream Center is a resource center for California residents seeking shelter, recovery assistance and food. This organization is the foundation of free programs for communities around the world.
A charred car is left inside a dealership in the aftermath of the Eaton fire on Friday, January 10, 2025, in Altadena, California. (Jae C. Hong/AP)
“Campuses grow over 20% overnight, which is a significant amount in a city like Los Angeles,” he says. “It’s very expensive to turn on utilities and everything else.”
Thirty years ago, Barnett was scheduled to serve as a pastor for a few months, but he quickly fell in love with Los Angeles and decided to stay indefinitely to open the Dream Center.
“In a city like Los Angeles, which is known as a 24/7 city, we thought, what if there was a place in the heart of Los Angeles that could pick up the pieces of broken, hurting, struggling dreams? ” Barnett said.
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The Dream Center, located on U.S. Route 101, opened in 1996 after the building was purchased from the Catholic Church for $3.9 million.
“We could have sold it to Paramount Studios for $16 million,” Burnett said.
Flames from the Palisades Fire burn through buildings on Sunset Boulevard during a powerful rainstorm in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on January 8, 2025. The Palisades Fire, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, has grown to more than 15,000 acres and 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as a second major fire burns near Eaton Canyon in Altadena. (Apu Gomez/Getty Images)
The 15-story building was used as a filming location for eight years. Currently, 700 residents, including homeless veterans, released minors, and families, live here every day.
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“We're available 24 hours a day to anyone in need,” Barnett said.
The Dream Center is now providing private rooms, food, supplies and other supplies to local California residents in need while firefighters battle the fires.
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. (Maxar Technologies via AP)
Australian chef Wolfgang Puck served 2,000 meals on Friday afternoon.
“He was like, ‘When are you going to serve them?’ So I said, ‘What about now? ’” Barnett said.
“So we threw them into the forefront.”
“This is 10 times bigger than coronavirus,” Barnett said of the relief efforts.
Barnett added that the generous food donations will be depleted in just two hours.
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“Then someone else will come forward and we'll put them at the forefront and new restaurants will emerge,” Barnett said.
“It's just miracle after miracle. It's a miracle that happens when you need it. It always seems to show up. When you deal with hurtful things, God just provides an outlet for the incredible things that happen. That's how it happens.
Smoke fills the sky from the Eaton Wildfire in Altadena, Los Angeles County, California, on January 9, 2025. Fast-moving wildfires have forced the evacuation of 30,000 people, and authorities have warned that worsening winds could cause them to spread further. (Teyfan Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Every day, the Dream Center and its 250 volunteers work 10 hours a day to feed the affected areas, loading trucks with supplies and delivering them to affected areas amid dangerous wildfire conditions.
“This is 10 times bigger than coronavirus,” Barnett said of the relief efforts.
“I'm not home,” Barnett said. “I am now away from home in my office, so I am truly a refugee and I am helping other refugees.”
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“We're kind of here serving out of our own pain, not knowing the future of our home, just blocks away from the fire,” Barnett said of her family, which includes a dog. spoke.
“We serve from our own struggles.”
Celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Florence Pugh, Billie Eilish, JoJo Siwa, and King Buck have also supported the Dream Center. They shared the post on social media, garnering even more attention and volunteerism.
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“These are people I've never met, but they're looking for a way to do good,” Barnett said.
The Dream Center is collecting donations of food, household items, baby supplies, clothing, water, and monetary donations both online and in person.
