Community effort helps feed firefighters at SoCal command posts

BEL AIR, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- You might call it "Operation Feed First Responders." Volunteers lined up at the Skirball Fire Command Post in Westwood to help feed firefighters who were coming off grueling, exhausting shifts.

Thousands of meals went out to those who serve -- firefighters and law enforcement.

"They're coming down from the baseline and we pack the boxes to go," said volunteer Winnie Tong. Tong, along with Alan Razzaghi, are the owners of "Fresh Lunches," and were a big part of the effort.

Also on the food line were students from schools like the Buckley School. Their classes were cancelled for days due to the Skirball Fire.

"Firefighters are stopping the fires from damaging homes, so I feel like the least we can do is give them food," said fifth grader Charlie Katz.

"We're here trying to get them like that one hour, where they can actually enjoy themselves, because in an hour, they're going to get right back on the front lines and fight the fire," said student Dashiel Berk.

The owners of Fresh Lunches cooked meals and organized the effort. Parents and local businesses donated coffee, desserts, snacks and beverages

"This was yet another way for us to help the community and also a way to tap into the resources the parent communities have at schools," Razzaghi said.

Volunteers from L.A. Kitchen were also part of the effort. Founder Robert Egger and his crew worked out of their facility in Lincoln Heights, cooking and assembling thousands of healthy meals that were delivered straight to the firefight.

"We were in Oxnard yesterday, doing deliveries to the Red Cross center there. What you're seeing here is so much the power of L.A. It's like a great meal in the kitchen is a sum of many, many parts. That's what's going on here today," Egger said.

And the firefighters definitely appreciated the efforts.

"This is our responsibility to take care of you guys, so, to have that support shown -- spending their time out here on the food line, and doing those extra things out here is great," LAFD Captain Jennifer Wilcox said.