When fires destroyed parts of Los Angeles this week, real estate agent Jenna Cooper began asking friends for clothes and other items to help people in need.
Her request quickly spread through a network of powerful women. Actresses like Sharon Stone and Halle Berry responded, providing sweaters, shoes, clothing, bags, belts, pajamas and more pulled from their own collections.
“I’m cleaning out my entire closet,” Berry wrote on Instagram. “If you live in the Southern California area, I urge you to do the same. This is something we can do now.”
Cooper, who also runs a home improvement store called +COOP, cleared out half the space to create a pop-up shopping experience so homeless people could take what they needed. Many Los Angeles residents lost entire homes in the fires, which are still raging.
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Stone posted information about the donations on social media, which helped attract publicity. She and her sister, Kelly Stone, contributed clothing, bedding and more.
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“The first thing they need when they walk into the store is a hug,” said Kelly Stone. She then said to the shoppers: “Show me pictures of yourself, how do you dress?” so she could direct them toward sweaters or coats that reflected her style.
Offerings ranged from packages of new underwear from Target to new or gently used Zara dresses and a few Gucci and Ferragamo shoes in the mix.
Cooper said he has received donations and volunteer support from Los Angeles power brokers, including actors, executives, lawyers, restaurant owners and mothers. Her network of real estate agents in New York was sending gift cards, she said.
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A Hollywood stylist came with two large bags of items from her closet and was enlisted to help organize the store for shoppers over the weekend.
“I know people who have lost everything, and even people I don’t know leave me devastated,” said Lisa Cera, who has worked for celebrities like the Kardashians and Lenny Kravitz. “I decided I’m going to take what I can get.”
