Halle Berry donates her entire closet as celebrities offer aid amid LA wildfires
The rich and famous are doing what they can to offer support while wildfires continue to rage across Los Angeles, California.
Halle Berry is among those going to great lengths, having packed up her entire closet to donate to displaced families who have lost everything.
Out-of-control wildfires have been destroying communities in LA for days, with at least 10 people dead and hundreds of buildings completely beyond repair.
As of Friday morning, 153,000 people are under evacuation orders across the county, fleeing to safety with just the possessions they could carry as brave firefighters attempt to contain the wild blazes.
Stars including Paris Hilton, Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles, Mel Gibson, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Miles Teller, Spencer Pratt, and Heidi Montag are among those whose houses have burned down after the original fire began in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood.
In recent days, A-listers have taken to social media to help with fundraising efforts and offer words of comfort, with some multi-millionaires being especially praised for going above and beyond.
Halle Berry
Filming for Instagram, actress Berry arrived at +COOP this weekend, a Beverly Boulevard boutique serving as a relief pop-up offering relief to those who need clothing, free of charge.
‘I’m packing up my entire closet and heading over to the COOP! If you live in the Southern California area, I urge you to do the same,’ the Catwoman star wrote.
‘This is something we can do right now today to help all of the displaced families that are in need of the basics today!’
Also in her caption, Berry praised movie star Sharon Stone for setting an example, adding: ‘Thank you @sharonstone for your leadership. Love you Lady ❤️’
She then said in her video, shared with nine million followers, that ‘gently used’ clothing would be of great help to people of all ages affected by the fires.
Panning her camera across the store inside, Berry revealed that after just three hours of accepting donations, an unbelievable amount of items had already been acquired.
On display were piles of shoes, sweaters, socks, coats, blankets, and toys for children.
Seemingly keen to also donate, actress Michelle Pfeiffer asked in the comments: ‘Can I do tomorrow?’
Sharon Stone
Along with Berry, Stone has made much-needed donations to +COOP.
She has continued using her Instagram platform, which boasts four million followers, to spread information about where relief can be found and how evacuees can access support.
Sharing a video of the boutique, she captured two ladies heading into the store to donate, telling them: ‘Thank you so much; we appreciate your donations.’
‘Donations are coming in so fast. We have amazing sunglasses, bedding, women’s coats, clothing, toiletries, hats, kids’ clothes…’, she informed viewers while filming inside.
‘This is what a group of women does in four hours, but the donations keep pouring in, which is amazing.’
‘Please come and shop if you were displaced from the fire,’ Stone penned in her caption, having explained that cars ‘lined up around the block’ as people flocked to donate.
Stone has also appeared on NewsNation, telling audiences that she has taken displaced families into her home to offer them shelter.
‘We recognise that there are apocalyptic tragedies all over the world and we recognise that this will get better if we all help each other,’ she declared.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Halloween actress Jamie Lee Curtis initially feared she’d lost her own Santa Monica home in the fires.
Thankfully, she was soon able to confirm her property was safe, capturing the devastating fallout of the blaze in a video.
She wrote on Instagram: ‘Our beloved neighbourhood is gone. Our home is safe. So many others have lost everything. Help where you can. Thank you to the first responders and firefighters.’
Curtis and her husband, actor and director Christopher Guest, have since pledged to donate $1million (£819k) to relief.
She vowed to help ‘our great city and state and the great people who live there’ however possible.
Curtis added that she was in contact with officials about ‘where those funds need to be directed for the most impact.’
However, the scream queen has also been criticised for comparing the LA fires to war-torn Gaza.
Jennifer Garner
Actress Jennifer Garner said her heart is ‘bleeding’ to witness the suffering caused by the wildfires.
The 13 Going on 30 star volunteered with a local relief organisation to help feed firefighters in LA as they tackle the flames.
For her shift, she joined chef José Andrés, who set up World Central Kitchen and has been giving out food to those without access to any.
Garner’s charitable nature is well documented, as she has been an ambassador for Save the Children for 15 years and regularly gets involved with non-profits in her area.
Speaking on NBC News, Garner explained that she was desperate to help in whatever way she could.
Visibly emotional, she said among the debris: ‘I’m looking at the chimney of somebody I loved who died there… it’s too awful to talk about.’
‘It’s just unimaginable,’ she added of the tragedy caused.
‘So, I reached out to Chef and just said, Save the Children is getting up and running here in LA to help kids in shelters… while we get set up, you need to do something with your hands.
‘I took advantage a little bit of celebrity privilege and called Chef and said, “Please, can I come with you”.’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle issued a formal statement reading: ‘If a friend, loved one, or pet has to evacuate and you are able to offer them a safe haven in your home, please do.’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex added in a message posted to their official website: ‘And be sure to check in with any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating.’
They also encouraged donating clothing, toys, and other necessities to the American Red Cross.
As for their own Archewell Foundation, the organisation is accepting volunteers to assist with mental health recovery for those in need, committing to facilitating long-term efforts.
What’s more, the married couple has supported the Southern California community by opening their own home to friends.
As confirmed by People, they have offered shelter to people forced to evacuate.
Harry and Meghan live about 90 miles north of the LA area. Meghan is from LA originally.
They now reside in Montecito with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
Bethenny Frankel
Known for The Apprentice and The Real Housewives of New York City, Bethenny Frankel has been sending ‘critical supplies’ to those affected by the fires.
She informed her audience that she has a warehouse located in Chico, a city in California, ‘filled with aid’ for anyone who has lost homes.
Her charity, BStrong, has partnered with the Global Empowerment Mission to help distribute aid.
She said in a TikTok video: ‘We were the first responders on the Paradise California fires, and we were still there two years later, so BStrong stays long after the headlines fade.
‘Our MO right now is emergency; it’s crisis—the crisis and the disaster is still happening.’
Those who ‘don’t have anything to their name’ can also turn to her organisation for ‘cash cards’.
Additionally, there are plans to ‘set up shop’ at a local school or church to offer further aid.
‘We will start distributing money in the community and possibly helping with the rebuild like we’ve done in other communities.’
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