Jennifer Garner Expresses ‘Guilt’ Over Loss of Friend in LA Wildfires

Actor Jennifer Garner shared that she lost a friend in the devastating wildfires that have been ravaging Los Angeles for the past week. The actress, who volunteered alongside World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres on Friday to feed those who evacuated due to the fires, revealed that one of her friends from her church had died in the flames.

“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. I did lose a friend who did not get out in time,” Garner said while speaking to MSNBC’s Katy Tur, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.

“My heart bleeds for my friends, 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. 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?” Garner added.

The ‘Catch Me If You Can’ actress, who has lived in and around Palisades for 25 years, said she came out to volunteer because she wanted to be helpful and contribute to World Central Kitchen’s efforts.

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, visited World Central Kitchen in Pasadena, California, to help distribute food and supplies to victims of the Eaton Fire on Friday.

The couple connected with affected families and offered emotional support after hearing about their tragic experiences with the LA wildfires, as reported by People. Meghan and Harry also thanked first responders, including LA County firefighters and police. The Duke and Duchess later met with World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres at the food stations to praise the relief teams.

As per People, the couple made monetary donations and plan to continue supporting recovery efforts.

Pasadena Mayor Victor Grodo praised the Duke and Duchess’ visit, stating, “They want to be as helpful as they can be… we visited with some of the affected families in some of the burned-out areas in Pasadena and Altadena. They took the time to meet the people that are affected and spent time. They’re just very caring people who are concerned for their friends and neighbours,” Grodo said, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.

He also noted that Meghan and Harry, whose Archewell Foundation has longstanding ties with World Central Kitchen, visited the center “anonymously”. “No one knew they were serving food with masks,” Grodo added.

Many Hollywood celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Mandy Moore, Jeff Bridges, and Joshua Jackson, among others, lost their homes in the LA wildfires.

As per Deadline, the fires have broken out in the Pacific Palisades, Eaton Canyon, Malibu, Hollywood Hills, and other areas around Los Angeles County amid a life-threatening windstorm that began on Tuesday.

At least 16 people have died in the Southern California wildfires, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has received 16 missing persons reports related to the fires, according to Deadline. More than 105,000 people have received mandatory evacuation orders, with another 87,000 under evacuation warnings.