As of this writing, the LA wildfires have taken 24 lives, put 100,000 people on evacuation notice, and scorched nearly 60 square miles of land. For us visual folks, Reuters illustrated the scope of the destruction by noting that the 22 square miles consumed by the Eaton Fire alone in eastern LA, is about the size of Manhattan. While the Santa Ana winds let up over the weekend, they’re forecast to increase to 50-70 mph through Wednesday. One bit of hope throughout this ongoing disaster is that people have been stepping up to organize and contribute to relief efforts. Case in point: Sharon Stone. Last week Sharon started spreading the word about a store in Beverly Hills called +Coop, where people who have been affected by the fires can “shop” for clothing and home goods they need. +Coop is also accepting donations, which was all Halle Berry had to hear. This goddess went ahead and donated her “entire closet” to +Coop!
“Catwoman” co-stars Halle Berry and Sharon Stone are proving they are real life superheroes.
Berry, following the lead of her “Catwoman” co-star Stone, got candid in an Instagram video posted Thursday, telling fans she took her entire closet to Beverly Hills home goods store +Coop.
“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. This is something we can do right now today to help all of the displaced families that are in need of the basics today! Thank you @sharonstone for your leadership. Love you Lady ❤️” she wrote on Instagram.
“I’m from Meadville, Pennsylvania, and a famous quote from Margaret Meade says never forget that a group of thoughtful committed citizens can make a difference,” Berry said at the start of her video, using her camera to scan the room, which was stuffed full of donations.
As of Saturday, the wildfires have claimed lives of 11 people and devastated neighborhoods in Southern California. According to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, at least 10,000 structures have been destroyed in the fires.
…Hollywood stars like Berry have banded together to help their neighbors.
“Can I do tomorrow?” fellow actress Michelle Pfeiffer commented on Berry’s Instagram post.
Stone has been posting on Instagram this week in support of a donation drive for LA wildfire victims at +Coop.
“The Coop – Please come and shop if you were displaced from the fire,” she said on Instagram, adding that displaced people or neighbors should “come here for clothes, blankets, shoes, or make donations here.”
On Saturday, +Coop announced on Instagram that they were still seeking donations for men, women, teenagers and children.
I love how the Catwoman connection continues with Michelle Pfieffer chiming in! More importantly, I love how we’re seeing celebrities deploying their visibility to highlight ways to help. Whether it’s passing on salient advice, donating time and/or resources, or using their platform to amplify the voices of others in need, it really feels like celebs are showing up for their community. And even more amazing, is that a lot of the outreach (if not most) is happening on social media. We are actually seeing X (the artist formerly known as Twitter) being used for purely good purposes! People are coordinating donation needs/swaps all over X. As for +Coop, check in with their Instagram page because they’ve been making daily updates on open hours as well as areas of inventory they’re hoping to bulk up on through donations. And at some point down the line when LA is on the healing and rebuilding end of this, I hope we hear from the lucky civilian who strolled out of +Coop with Halle Berry’s iconic Elie Saab gown from the 2002 Oscars.
Note by Celebitchy: Halle Berry also went to +Coop to help get the word out about their relief efforts. Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe, the founders of Nickey Kehoe interior design, were with her and they said they would help anyone in need of all types of supplies including clothing and baby supplies. They also said they have drivers and personal shoppers and that anyone could reach out to them by phone or DM. Halle said people could DM her personally!
Photos credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon, uppa.co.uk/Avalon/Avalon and via Instagram
I think that was a lovely thing to do. People are in need of basic necessities like clothing and emptying one’s closet of things not worn but can be put to good use is great.
This! Many people only have the clothes on their backs. They need underwear, socks, a toothbrush, all the basic items you keep in your bathroom. My boss lost his house. So we’re sending gift cards to Target, grubhub, Uber eats,etc. Places where they can get basics and they can eat.
Gift cards are the best. I’ve seen posts asking people to stop bringing in clothes , there are huge piles and its getting harder to sort and manage.
People also need other basics
( think medicine, toiletries etc) so gift cards are very appreciated.
I wonder how many people can actually fit into Halle Berry’s or Michelle Pfeiffer’s clothes… yes I know that’s trivial but my size 12 self would have to hope for donations from some of the bigger actors (probably men!). Kudos to them for doing good deeds and not just complaining about the mayor.
Had this same thought yesterday. I am glad these rich celebs are doing something though.
Please also check Instagram pages and other resources to make sure that what you have to donate is what people need. A lot of places are full up on donations and don’t need more things. Other places have said that people have gotten really weird donations.
No one wants your used underwear (for example).
The number of people I’ve seen in my neighborhood who’ve been very huffy because their donations have been turned away is mind-boggling.
FWIW, it might be illegal to accept or allow donations of used underwear. I know it is in our state. But it’s insane managing donations of clothing because so many people donate well… garbage. Sorting through it is a nightmare. It’s also mostly dirty.
I ask people to make sure the clothing is not ripped or torn and at least not crusty.
I have got to say THIS…the last few years…Halle has bought me a lot of 😊 on and off tge screen.