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With tacos and toys, Angelenos rally to support neighbors after fires

Yuri Williams worn a red superhero costume and transported $2,000 worth of toys to a temporary Los Angelesarea donation center on Sunday, wanting to bring cheer to individuals displaced by this week's. devastating wildfires.

A kid waved and shouted Hi there, Deadpool! to Williams as he. used them crayons, street chalk, board games and more. Teenagers approached and asked for selfies.

Williams was among hundreds using aid at a contribution. center staged at the Santa Anita Park racetrack in Arcadia, a. city close to the Eaton Fire.

People require a diversion, and I'm here to be the. diversion, Williams said, guaranteeing to be back on Monday. Possibly I'll bring Wolverine with me.

Angelenos, frequently stereotyped as superficial and. self-indulgent, have rallied today to support the tens of. countless people who were displaced by wildfires that were. still burning on Sunday.

Volunteers waited in long lines for a chance to assist. They were divided into groups to arrange clothes, direct traffic. or handle other jobs. Lots of used masks to secure from the. wildfire smoke in the air.

In in between boxes of clothing, diapers, canned items and. kitchen supplies, Ganna Bubnova waved a sign that read Free. Ukrainian Food. Olha Leonova, who left Ukraine 2 years back. after the intrusion by Russia, stood beside her holding a tray. of bread and bowls of borscht, a standard Ukrainian dish.

I know how it feels to lose your home and to be in a. situation when you have absolutely nothing, Leonova stated. It's really. nice to be able to pay back and to assist others as much as they. helped me.

The Santa Anita effort began when street vendor Jimmy Medina. Jr. revealed on TikTok that he wished to serve hotdogs to. firemens. People who had been swamped with images of. destruction leapt at a possibility to do something positive, he. stated.

From there it simply blew up, Medina stated.

He initially provided food at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. After the effort swelled, it was transferred to the Santa Anita website.

The overflowing parking lot was just among lots of relief. efforts throughout the region.

Hollywood stars and stylists cleaned out their closets. to contribute clothing. A minimum of 13 taquerias were using free. tacos to very first responders, according to the L.A. Taco site.

Pasadena Humane, which is sheltering pets and other animals. displaced by the fire, had five U-Haul trucks filled with contributed. products and lines of automobiles stretching around the block to give. more, President and CEO Dia DuVernet stated.

Yesenia Ortega, who matured in the San Fernando Valley location. of Los Angeles, drove 40 miles (64 km) from her existing home. with her 16-year-old child to volunteer with another mom. and child.

When catastrophe comes, we simply become one, she said. All of us. become a household.

Anastasia Anderson, likewise a volunteer in Arcadia, said it's. times like this where your neighbor is one of the most crucial. people.

The federal government hasn't can be found in to help yet, so this is all. just neighbors assisting next-door neighbors, Anderson said, adding it was. actually, actually good to see, especially during a time where. we're really divided on various concerns..

(source: Reuters)