Snoop Dogg, Billie Eilish’s support for California wildfires draws attention to LA Dream Center

Americans began fleeing their homes and businesses this week as California wildfires raged and destroyed entire communities across five counties.

Firefighters, law enforcement and civilians are working together to contain the blazes, while local shelters and organizations are distributing food and supplies and providing shelter to thousands of people who have lost their homes and are seeking shelter.

“A lot of communities are like ghost towns,” Matthew Barnett, founder of the Los Angeles Dream Center, told Fox News Digital. (See the video at the top of this article.)

California wildfires: Basic phone numbers for Los Angeles area residents and how to help them

“We’re just trying to provide various types of solutions. Financials are obviously important because of housing,” he said.

The Los Angeles Dream Center is a resource center for California residents seeking asylum and in need of recovery assistance and food. The organization is the cornerstone of free programs in communities around the world.

“Overnight, your campus grows by 20 percent. That’s a lot for a city like Los Angeles,” he said. “It’s just too expensive to turn on the utilities and everything.”

Thirty years ago, Barnett planned to serve as a pastor for a few months, then he quickly fell in love with Los Angeles and decided to stay indefinitely to open the Dream Center.

“We thought, in a city like Los Angeles that’s known as 24/7, why not have a place in downtown Los Angeles that really picks up broken dreams and people who are hurting and struggling,” Barnett said.

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The Dream Center, located on U.S. Highway 101, opened in 1996 after purchasing it from the Catholic Church for $3.9 million.

“They could have sold it to Paramount Pictures for $16 million,” Barnett said.

On January 8, 2025, the Palisades Fire destroyed a building on Sunset Boulevard during a severe storm in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Driven by strong Santa Ana winds, the Palisades Fire has grown to more than 15,000 acres and 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, while a second fire breaks out near Eaton Canyon in Altadena. (Apu Gomez/Getty Images)

The 15-story building served as a filming location for eight years. It now houses 700 daily residents, including homeless veterans, emancipated minors and families.

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“It’s open 24 hours a day to anyone in need,” Barnett said.

Today, the Dream Center is providing private rooms, food, necessities and other supplies to local California residents in need as firefighters work to contain the fires.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. (Maxar Technologies, Inc. via AP)

Australian chef Wolfgang Puck delivered 2,000 meals on Friday afternoon.

“He said, ‘When will you serve them?’ I said, ‘What now?

“So, we just threw them on the front lines.”

“This is ten times what it’s been like with COVID,” Barnett said of the relief efforts.

Barnett added that the generous donations of food only last for two hours before running out.

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“Then other people will step up and we’ll put them on the front line and a new restaurant will come up,” Barnett said.

“It’s just one miracle after another. It always seems to be there when you need it. God has a way of providing all these incredible outlets when you’re caring for someone who’s hurting. That’s how it happens.”

On January 9, 2025, smoke from the Eaton Fire filled the sky in Altadena, Los Angeles County, California. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu, Getty Images)

During dangerous wildfire conditions, the Dream Center and its 250 daily volunteers are loading supplies onto trucks to deliver to affected areas and serving food lines 10 hours a day.

“This is ten times worse than COVID-19,” Barnett said of the relief efforts.

“I’m not home,” Barnett said. “I’m out of the house now and staying in the office. So, I’m really a displaced person – helping other displaced people.”

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“We’re like here, not knowing the future of our own home, which is just blocks away from the fire, but we’re in pain,” Barnett said of his family, including the dog. Serve.

“Serving our own struggles.”

Celebrities including Snoop Dogg, Florence Pugh, Billie Eilish, Jojo Siwa and King Bach have lent their support to the Dream Center; they share posts on social media, attracting more attention and volunteerism.

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“These are people we’ve never met, but they’re looking for ways to do good,” Barnett said.

The Dream Center is collecting food and non-perishable items, baby supplies, clothing, water and financial donations online and in person.