One year ago, fast-moving wildfires tore through communities across Los Angeles—forcing families from their homes, shutting down neighborhoods, and leaving thousands unsure where their next meal would come from. World Central Kitchen mobilized immediately as the flames spread, and our teams have been on the ground supporting recovery efforts every day since.

Within hours, WCK partnered with local restaurants, food trucks, and Chef Corps members to serve hot, comforting meals to evacuees and first responders—more than 1.6 million meals in the weeks immediately following the blazes. In shelters, parking lots, and neighborhood hubs, familiar food offered relief amid uncertainty. 

As evacuation orders lifted and recovery began, WCK adapted to meet evolving needs. Our teams shifted from emergency response to sustained support, helping local restaurants reopen and ensuring meals reached families navigating loss and displacement. By working with neighborhood partners, WCK supported small businesses that were feeding their own communities.

That commitment has endured every day since the first plate was served. Over the past year, WCK has remained alongside Angelenos as they rebuild—working with local farms to provide fresh ingredients at no cost, establishing a commissary kitchen so restaurants damaged by the fires could restart their businesses, providing direct financial support through grocery gift cards so families could reliably access food, and helping communities reconnect with food, land, and one another through school and community gardens.

Today, as we mark one year since the LA wildfires, we honor the strength of the communities impacted and the local cooks, volunteers, and partners who stepped up for their neighbors. From the first meal served to the ongoing work of recovery, WCK remains committed to standing with the people of Los Angeles.