Jennifer Garner, aka everyone’s favorite Hollywood mom and secret ninja (we saw Alias, Jen), has been a proud resident of the Pacific Palisades for a whopping 25 years. But recent fires have turned her beloved neighborhood into something resembling a sad, smoky dystopia, leaving her and countless others heartbroken.
In true Jennifer fashion, she didn’t just sit around sipping oat milk lattes and Googling “how to help in a fire.” Nope, she rolled up her sleeves and teamed up with Chef José Andrés, the culinary superhero feeding first responders and victims with World Central Kitchen. Picture this: Jennifer Garner, covered in flour, handing out sandwiches with the determination of someone who just found out their kid spilled juice on their white couch.
“I’ve lived here for 25 years,” Jennifer told MSNBC, likely while balancing a tray of casseroles. “I just thought, What can I do? How can I help? And since I already know Chef José from my Save the Children work, I said, Put me in, Coach!” (Honestly, the Palisades needs its own Marvel team with Jen and José as the leads.)
But this isn’t all sandwiches and superhero metaphors. Jennifer revealed to anchor Katy Tur that one of her dear friends from church tragically didn’t survive the fires. “She didn’t get out in time,” Jennifer said, choking up, because even superhumans have hearts the size of California.
And then, just when you thought your heart couldn’t break any more, Jennifer dropped this emotional mic: “I know at least 100 families who lost their homes. A hundred! I feel almost guilty walking through my house. What can I do? What can I offer? My hands? My walls? My knack for playing lovable yet strong-willed characters in Netflix movies?”
It’s a tough time for Jennifer and her community, but leave it to her to remind us that, even when everything seems like a literal dumpster fire, there’s always a way to lend a hand—or a casserole.
Let’s just agree on one thing: If Jennifer Garner is out here saving the day in an apron, the least we can do is pitch in. Or, at the very least, not burn the cookies we’re sending as donations.