Americans began fleeing their homes and businesses this week Wildfires in California It enraged and decimated entire communities in five provinces.
Firefighters, law enforcement and civilians work together to contain the fires, while shelters and local organizations distribute… Food and supplies And provide a roof for those seeking shelter as thousands of people lose their homes.
“It's like a ghost town in a lot of these communities,” Matthew Barnett, founder of the Los Angeles Dream Center, told Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview. (Watch the video at the top of this article.)
“We're just trying to provide all kinds of solutions. Obviously, financials are important because of housing,” he said.
The LA Dream Center is a resource center for Californians seeking shelter and those in need of recovery assistance and food. The organization is a cornerstone of free programming for communities around the world.
Cars are left charred inside a dealership following the Eaton Fire on Friday, January 10, 2025 in Altadena, California. (Jay Si Hong/AP)
“You get 20 percent more growth on your campus overnight. That's a lot in a city like Los Angeles,” he said. “It's very expensive to run the facilities and everything.”
Thirty years ago, Barnett planned just that Serve as pastor For a few months before he quickly falls in love with Los Angeles and decides to stay indefinitely to open the Dream Center.
“We thought in a city like Los Angeles that is known as a 24/7 city, why not have a place in the heart of Los Angeles that would pick up the pieces of broken dreams and those that are hurting and struggling,” Barnett said.
Located on US Route 101, the Dream Center opened in 1996 after purchasing the building from… Catholic Church For $3.9 million.
“They could have sold it for $16 million to Paramount Studios,” Barnett said.
Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a building on Sunset Boulevard amid a strong wind storm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Due to intense Santa Ana winds, the Palisades Fire has spread to more than 15,000 acres and 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate while a second major fire burns near Eaton Canyon in Altadena. (Abu Gomez/Getty Images)
The 15-story building was a filming location for eight years. It now houses 700 residents, incl Homeless veteransfreeing minors and families, among others, on a daily basis.
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“It's open 24 hours a day for anyone in need,” Barnett said.
Today, the Dream Center offers private rooms, food, necessities and other supplies to local residents California residents Who need help as firefighters struggle to control the flames.
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Eaton Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Altadena, California. (Maxar Technologies via AP)
Australian chef Wolfgang Puck delivered 2,000 meals on Friday afternoon.
“He says, 'When are you going to serve them?' And I said: What about now? Barnett said.
“So, we threw them directly onto the front line.”
“This is Covid 10 times,” Barnett said of the relief effort.
Barnett added that the generous food donation will only last for two hours before it runs out.
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“Then someone else will step up, we'll put them on the front line and a new restaurant will pop up,” Barnett said.
“It's just one miracle after another. It's a miracle when you need it, and it always seems to show up. When you care about hurting people, God has a way Just providing all these great outlets that are happening. It happens that way.”
A view of smoke covering the sky from the Eaton Wildfire in Altadena, Los Angeles County, California, on January 9, 2025. The fast-moving wildfire forced 30,000 people to evacuate, with officials warning that rising winds could worsen the blaze. . (Tayfun Coskun/Anatolia via Getty Images)
Amid a dangerous wildfire situation, Dream Center and its 250 volunteers daily load trucks with supplies to transport them to affected areas and deliver food lines for 10 hours a day.
“This is Covid 10 times,” Barnett said of the relief effort.
“I'm not in my house,” Barnett said. “I'm away from home now, staying in my office. So, I'm really displaced – helping other displaced people.”
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“We're here kind of not knowing the future of our home that's only two blocks from the fire and yet we're serving through our pain,” Barnett said of his family, including the dogs.
“Service is our own struggle.”
Celebrities including Snoop Dogg, Florence Pugh, Billie Eilish, Jojo Siwa and King Bach are among others who have thrown their support behind the Dream Center; They shared the posts on social media, attracting more interest and volunteer work.
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“These are people we've never met, but they're people looking for ways to do good,” Barnett said.
The Dream Center collects donations of food, non-perishable items, baby supplies, clothing, water and financial donations online and in person.
