By Lisa Richwine and Rollo Ross
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – When wildfires destroyed elements of Los Angeles this week, actual property agent Jenna Cooper began asking buddies for clothes and different objects to assist individuals in want.
Her request unfold shortly by means of a community of highly effective girls. Actors together with Sharon Stone and Halle Berry responded, offering sweaters, sneakers, clothes, purses, belts, pajamas and extra pulled from their very own collections.
“I’m packing up my entire closet,” Berry wrote on Instagram. “If you live in the Southern California area, I urge you to do the same. This is something we can do right now.”
Cooper, who additionally runs a house items retailer known as +COOP, cleared half the area to create a pop-up procuring expertise for displaced individuals to take what they want. Many Angelenos misplaced complete houses within the fires, which had been nonetheless burning on Friday.
Stone circulated details about the donations on social media, which helped appeal to publicity. She and her sister, Kelly Stone, contributed clothes, bedding and extra, and Kelly volunteered to help consumers.
“The first thing they need when they come in the store is a hug,” Kelly Stone mentioned. She then mentioned to consumers, “Show me pictures of yourself, how do you dress?” so she may direct them to sweaters or trench coats that mirrored their model.
On the retailer on Friday, a remedy canine named Jackie Robinson greeted individuals on the door. Inside, they appeared by means of racks of attire and coats, stacks of denim, cabinets of sneakers and baskets of purses.
Choices ranged from packages of recent underwear from Goal (NYSE:) to new or frivolously used Zara attire and a few Gucci and Ferragamo sneakers within the combine.
Cooper mentioned she obtained donations and volunteer help from energy gamers throughout Los Angeles, together with actors, executives, legal professionals, restaurant homeowners and mothers. Her community of actual property brokers in New York was sending reward playing cards, she mentioned.
One Hollywood stylist got here with two massive luggage of things from her closet and was enlisted to assist manage the shop for consumers over the weekend.
“I know people who have lost everything, and even people I don’t know I’m devastated for,” mentioned Lisa Cera, who has labored for celebrities together with the Kardashians and Lenny Kravitz. “I decided I’m just going to bring whatever I can.”
Ellen Bennett was selecting objects for her 72-year-old mom, who misplaced her house within the Eaton (NYSE:) fireplace on the east aspect of Los Angeles. Bennett mentioned she chosen “the basics,” together with socks, sweaters, pants, a jacket and a pair of trainers.
“She left her house with her dog and a bag and just a few things. She thought she would come back,” Bennett mentioned of her mom, including, “It’s so special and beautiful that in this time of tragedy, people are rising up and helping each other.”
Retailer proprietor Cooper mentioned she helped a person discover a pair of sneakers so he may run on the seashore, one thing he had not achieved for the reason that fires erupted. She mentioned she was overwhelmed by the response to her thought to assist.
“This is a city of love, and everybody wants to support each other,” Cooper mentioned.
