Jennifer Garner Says She Lost a Friend in the Palisades Wildfire

Jennifer Garner attends "The Big Night Out" Gala hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles (BBBSLA) in Hollywood, Calif., on Nov. 10, 2022. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Actress Jennifer Garner spoke about the devastation her Pacific Palisades community is experiencing in the wake of the ongoing wildfires.

During an interview with MSNBC on Friday, the actress stood alongside renowned chef José Andrés and anchor Katy Tur as she revealed she had lost a friend from her church in the disaster.

“I did lose a friend, and for our church. It’s really tender, so I don’t feel like we should talk about it yet,” Garner said. “I did lose a friend. She didn’t get out in time.”

Garner, who said she has lived in or around the Pacific Palisades for 25 years, is working with Andrés to feed those in need during the crisis.

“My heart bleeds for my friends. I mean, I can think of 100 families, and there are 5,000 homes lost,” the actress said. “I could just write out a list of 100 friends who lost their homes.”

“I feel almost guilty walking through my house,” she continued. “You know, what can I do? How can I help? What can I offer? What do I have to offer with these hands and these walls and the safety that I have?”

Since its eruption on Tuesday, The Palisades Fire remains the largest fire devastating Los Angeles County, destroying over 22,600 acres and thousands of structures across the Pacific Palisades and Malibu. Firefighters have contained 11 percent, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Garner partnered with Andrés through his non-profit World Central Kitchen, which provides food relief to victims of natural disasters and is currently serving impacted communities across Los Angeles County amid the fires.

“Because of my work with Save The Children, we have a relationship with 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,’” Garner said.

“It is an incredible thing to watch World Central Kitchen and Chef José just come in and... ‘We’ve got this handled. Don’t worry. We’ve got you,’” she added.

Save the Children

On Friday, Garner appeared on an Instagram livestream with journalist Katie Couric as she volunteered with World Central Kitchen to help bring food to first responders and families affected by the fires.

“Well, first of all, zero percent of it is about me because I have my home and I am safe,” the actress said as she stood alongside Andrés. “I’m not a spokesperson for people who’ve gone through this. But it’s pretty devastating to witness, obviously. I think everyone is in shock, honestly, Katie. I just think that it hasn’t even begun to hit us.”

The mother of three also mentioned the previous work she has done with the nonprofit Save the Children.

“When I’ve gone to flood sites or hurricane evacuations or just disaster relief, you go scared of what you’re going to see and you always come away filled with hope and with faith and humanity, and that’s the opportunity here,” she said.

Garner also praised the chef for his work in providing meals to those impacted by such disasters through World Central Kitchen, which was established in 2010.

“The first thing you do is feed people. And that’s what he’s done,” she said of Andrés. “So I just reached out to him through Save and I said, ‘How can I put my hands to work?’ And I’m lucky. I know everyone in LA is desperate to be put to work and there are so few ways to do it. I did get to shoot to the top with Chef, which is very, very lucky.”

At least 180,000 residents across Los Angeles County have been forced to evacuate. Several celebrities have had their homes destroyed by the fire, including Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, Anna Faris, Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore, Mel Gibson, Miles Teller, and Paris Hilton.