At least 24 people have died in the Los Angeles wildfires. During a recent interview, actress Jennifer Garner revealed that one of her friends tragically lost her life. Speaking to MSNBC’s Katy Tur, Jennifer said she “did lose a friend” from her church amid the California fires. Because “it’s really tender” for her church, Jennifer declined to share details about her friend’s death at this time.
“I don’t feel like I should talk about her yet,” Jennifer explained when speaking to MSNBC. “But, yeah, I did lose a friend who did not get out in time.”
Jennifer’s family’s church burned down in the fire, and as someone who has lived around the Palisades for 25 years, the 13 Going on 30 actress knows numerous people who lost their homes as the fires ravaged through the community.
“My heart bleeds for my friends,” she said. “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.” The fact that she didn’t lose her home in the wildfires almost makes her feel guilty, she admitted.
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“I feel almost guilty walking through my house,” Jennifer said. “Just, you know, what can I do? How can I help? What do I have to offer with these hands and these walls and the safety that I have?”
So far, Jennifer has volunteered in her community by helping World Central Kitchen’s Chef José Andrés feed people who have been affected by the fires.
“Because of my work with Save The Children, we have a relationship with the chef, and I was able to just say, ‘Can I be with you for the day? What can I do to help? Put me to work,'” she explained.
Elsewhere in the interview, she praised World Central Kitchen and Chef José Andrés for the work they’ve done in the community. She added that “the sense of community is strong.” Jennifer said, “We will look after each other and that is still here. That’s stronger than ever.”
On January 7, Jennifer’s ex-husband Ben Affleck had to evacuate his Pacific Palisades home. Per Page Six, he stayed with Jennifer and their three children that night. An insider told the publication that although Ben’s home was “still under evacuation order,” he returned to his property the following day as it was “safe for the time being.”
