Jan 19, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (KFOR)—As firefighters in Los Angeles continue to battle the flames from devastating wildfires, thousands are lining up for food, clothing, and toy giveaways. Here in Oklahoma, several businesses are helping out by hosting a fundraiser to help those displaced in California. "You hear the word unimaginable tragedy thrown around a lot. I don't think I fully understood what that meant until this," said Austin Green, an L.A. resident. LA’s Olympic venues were spared by wildfires, but the city’s rebuild could impact the Games’ runup Austin Green is from Altadena and said they anticipated the strong winds hitting southern California but never imagined the canyon by his childhood home would catch fire. "We knew that there was a big windstorm coming out and it would be kind of the worst we had seen in about 15 years," said Green. He also couldn't imagine his neighborhood being impacted. "We woke up the next morning and we turned on the news and the fire was going down one of the cross streets right by our house," said Green.Green said seeing the destruction was shocking. "It's the coffee shop you were at just a month ago. It's your friend's house. It's the person you went to high school with," said Green. Shohei Ohtani is donating $500,000 to help firefighters and others affected by the LA wildfires There's still a lot of work to be done with containment and cleanup, but Green said the community has stepped up. Donation centers across the city are packed with items for displaced families. "There's a Google doc with GoFundMe's just from the Eaton fire, and every day I look, there's about a hundred more GoFundMe's," said Green. Here in Oklahoma, a group of former Angelenos are also stepping up to help. "It moved us to do something more than just, you know, sending a little message of support," said Silvana Walters, the owner of Sedalia's. Sedalia's, Palo Santo, Bar Arbolada, and Later Bye are the primary hosts. The event will be held at Palo Santo from 4 to 8 p.m. on January 20. Silvana Walters said all proceeds from the night and any donations from the silent auction will go straight to L.A. Tennis player Taylor Fritz is donating Australian Open prize money to LA wildfire relief funds On the menu for the night are some familiar favorites with nods to the city of angels. "The apple pan burger, the In-N-Out burger, the Tommy's burger," said Walters. Walters hopes the fundraiser is a night to celebrate L.A. and support the community from a thousand miles away. "There is a community of Angelenos here, more so than I think a lot of people would assume or expect. So we're very, very grateful to be able to have the time and borrow Palo Santo for that one night," said Walters. All proceeds from the night and the silent auction are going to the World Central Kitchen, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, and the U.S. Humane Society. "OKC for LA" will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on January 20 at Palo Santo, 1203 SW Second Street in Oklahoma City.
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