Jennifer Garner has shared that she “lost a friend” in the devastating wildfires continuing to ravage Los Angeles.
The actress, who was volunteering alongside World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés on Friday to feed those who evacuated due to the fires, spoke to MSNBC‘s Katy Tur about seeing the destruction the Palisades Fire left behind. She also shared that one of her friends from her church died in the fires.
“I did lose a friend, and for our church, it’s really tender so I don’t feel like we should talk about her yet,” Garner said, with a shaky voice. “I did lose a friend who did not get out in time.”
The Last Thing He Told Me actress, who said she’s “lived in and around the Palisades for 25 years,” said she came out to volunteer because she “wanted to get our hands into working, somehow, to be helpful.”
“My heart bleeds for my friends,” she added. “I mean, I can think of 100 families, and there are 5,000 homes lost. I can — without even [thinking] — I could just write out a list of 100 friends who lost their homes.”
Garner continued, “I feel almost guilty walking through my house. You know, what can I do? How can I help? What can I offer? What do I have to offer with these hands and these walls and the safety that I have?”
Elsewhere in the interview, the 13 Going on 30 star praised Andrés and the World Central Kitchen, which provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises.
“It is an incredible thing to watch,” Garner said. “World Central Kitchen and Chef José just come in and… ‘We’ve got you. We’ve got this handled. Don’t worry.’”
Since Tuesday, when the wildfires initially broke out in Pacific Palisades before spreading to parts of Malibu and Santa Monica overnight, first responders have been working to contain other active wildfires across the L.A. area, including the Eaton, Hurst and Kenneth fires. The death toll has also risen to 11 people, the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office said Friday.
As of Friday afternoon, the Kenneth Fire was 35 percent contained; the Palisades Fire near the coastline was 8 percent contained; and the Eaton Fire was 3 percent contained. The Hurst Fire, south of Santa Clarita, was 70 percent contained.
Thousands of people have also lost their homes in the destruction from the flames, including numerous celebrities. Many have taken to social media to document the devastation and the impact the fires had on their communities.
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