Los Angeles proves wrong the clichés which give it an egocentric and superficial image: for a week, volunteers and donations have been flocking there, intended for the victims of the fires.
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In a parking lot in Arcadia, northeast of Los Angeles, around 600 people showed up on Sunday to distribute donations to the victims. Many of them had been sent there by centers overwhelmed by the influx of good Samaritans.
“I had goosebumps,” says a 38-year-old resident, who organized the distribution.
“It’s insane. I am moved (…) LA is there,” greets Vanessa Abad, employee of a caterer.
This donation center was improvised last Tuesday, following a message posted on TikTok by a resident who was looking for food.
As he grew bigger, he already had to move three times, and finally took up residence on a large plot of land adjoining a racetrack.
On Monday, hundreds of volunteers were still present to sort boxes of clothes and toys. Or to distribute bottles of water, sanitary products and masks to protect against toxic fumes from fires.
While a man plays the Beatles’ “Here Comes The Sun” on guitar, volunteers prepare hot dogs and tacos.
The fires are still ravaging the outskirts of Los Angeles, affecting people of different social classes and have killed at least 24 people. Several neighborhoods where residents thought they had been safe from fires for decades were reduced to ashes.
“It’s very different from my other volunteer experiences, because there is really no difference between the people who help and those who are helped,” says Gianna Karkafi, a 19-year-old student. “It’s just a matter of luck.”
“Warm to the heart”
Los Angeles is known for its entertainment industry and its streets filled with homeless people. But America’s second-largest city is also home to a plethora of food banks and charities.
AFP
Among those who come to stock up on clothing and food after the fires, some appear to have been struggling for much longer than a week to make ends meet.
The outpouring of solidarity must benefit everyone, whether they are victims of the fires or not, insists Elaine Hoang.
“If they need it, we are there for them,” explains this 26-year-old pharmacist, who drove a good hour and a half to come and lend a hand.
In the wake of the fires, LA is capable of both the best and the worst.
Several dozen individuals were arrested in the evacuated areas, and nine of them were charged with burglary. One of them even disguised himself as a firefighter to carry out his thefts.
“Many shelters are inundated with offers of help from local residents, which is heartwarming,” said California Senator Adam Schiff. “There are many reasons to remain hopeful during these difficult times. There’s also a lot to be exasperated with.”
AFP
Most of the photos of which Los Angeles is the target seem in any case to have exploded, in the eyes of the volunteers involved.
“Everyone is so self-centered sometimes, but when a natural disaster hits so close to home, I feel like everyone says, ‘We have to insure,’” summarizes Alicia Carreon, a restaurant worker. 31 years old.
“Like the residents of Florida,” recently hit by hurricanes, “we come together and help each other,” she observes.
“California is our home,” she concludes. “Los Angeles is our home.”
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