These LA Restaurants Are Offering Free Food for Evacuees and First Responders

Ashia Aubourg
·3 min read
Danny Boy's Pizza signage.
Credit: Stan Lee Credit: Stan Lee

Smoke engulfs Los Angeles as wildfires roar uncontrollably across multiple communities. Flames are consuming homes filled with memories, leaving residents feeling increasingly vulnerable. Meanwhile, first responders are putting their lives on the line, fighting tirelessly against a natural disaster that grows more intense with each passing day.

LA-based restaurants and food businesses have stepped up in these challenging times to provide food, shelter, and support to fire evacuees and first responders. The Kitchn spoke with Calin Senciac, owner of Papille Gustative, a farm-to-table cafe in Santa Monica, about how his business is stepping up. He shared that they’re offering a nostalgic comfort food of “fresh-baked cookies and milk” to those affected, explaining that they feel a strong responsibility to support their neighbors because they are “a part of and servers of the community.”

We also spoke with Rob Noyola, manager of Oy Bar, who is serving vegan lentil and chicken soup to evacuees. He emphasized, “We are a neighborhood bar and have always valued the importance of community. Feeding evacuees and offering comfort to those in need is the least we could do for a community that has supported us so much.” Daniel Holzman, the chef and owner of Danny Boy’s, added, “This is an all-hands-on-deck emergency. It’s luck of the draw whether your life, business, and loved ones have been devastated. And everyone has been touched or affected. To my mind, there’s no choice but to help.”

If you’re not based in LA, you can still support, says Celia Ward-Wallace, the co-CEO of South LA Cafe, who distributed free groceries, water, and masks to the community members. She mentioned that you can donate to restaurants that are helping out the evacuees and first responders. “For folks who are not local and cannot volunteer, we are seeking financial donations through our nonprofit, the South LA Community Foundation,” Ward-Walce said.

Below is a list of restaurants and food businesses offering free food, resources, and shelter to fire evacuees and first responders. If you live in LA, consider sharing this guide with others or support these businesses by donating to help them continue their mutual-aid efforts.

LA-Based Restaurant Offering Support to Fire Evacuees and First Responders

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