RightMealz leads wildfire relief in Long Beach and inspires kindness in action.

The Morning Los Angeles Turned to Ash

January 7th didn’t feel like Los Angeles. The sunlight never really showed up that morning. A heavy gray haze hung over the city, and the air smelled like a strange mix of campfire smoke and burning buildings.

By breakfast, evacuation orders were going out across Los Angeles County. Families were grabbing what they could, sometimes just their pets or a backpack, and leaving.

When disaster hits, help doesn’t always come from the places you expect. Sometimes it’s the people right down the street who make the first move.

RightMealz Turns Into a Relief Hub

On January 9th, RightMealz, a local meal prep company in Long Beach, shifted from delivering healthy meals to organizing a wildfire relief drive.

They set up space outside their shop, got a U-Haul, and put the word out online about exactly what was needed:

“Today, we are collecting for families displaced by the Los Angeles wildfires. Bring any of the following to RightMealz before 9 PM: bottled water, snacks, blankets, socks, baby supplies, pet food, hygiene kits. Every item helps.”

It wasn’t a long post, but it spread quickly, through Long Beach Facebook groups, Nextdoor, Instagram DMs, and even text messages.

People didn’t just like it. They showed up.

The Response Was Immediate

By mid-morning, donations were already piling up:

• Bottled water, granola bars, canned goods

• Socks, underwear, blankets

• Dog food, cat litter

• Diapers, wipes, formula

• Toothpaste, soap, antiseptic wipes, bandages

  
  

Some came with carloads. Others walked up with one blanket or a pack of diapers.

It all mattered.

The Sidewalk That Became a Symbol of Hope

By noon, the sidewalk outside RightMealz was covered in boxes and bags, with a couple of loads already sent off to the local shelter.

People just… came together. No one had to direct traffic or hand out assignments. Neighbors who’d never spoken before were suddenly shoulder to shoulder, sorting through donations. Some were stacking water cases, others were organizing boxes by category.

Filling up the U-Haul parked out front in the street became the main goal, and everyone worked together to get as much as they could loaded in. Even the alleyway beside the shop turned into extra space for organizing.

It was so natural, like everyone had been on the same team for years.

Where We Came In

We didn’t organize this drive, that credit goes fully to RightMealz and the people who rallied around them, but when we heard what was going on, we knew we could pitch in.

Through our Kindness Delivered program, we keep certain supplies on hand for moments just like this, water, hygiene kits, blankets, and pet food. We loaded up a few cars with everything we could spare and made our way to Long Beach.

When we arrived, it was clear the effort was in full swing. We unloaded our supplies, knowing they’d be sorted, packed, and in the hands of families who needed them before the day was over.

It wasn’t about taking the spotlight. It was about showing up, lending what we had, and standing behind the good work already in motion.

Why This Story Matters to Us

We’re sharing this because it’s the kind of moment that reminds you what’s possible when people step up.

One local business put out a call, and the community showed up in force, people showing compassion in its purest form, helping others simply because they could. We just happened to be there for a few hours, adding what we could to the effort.

For us, that’s what compassion looks like: pitching in when it counts, no matter who gets the credit. Doing the right thing with heart.

The Real Impact

For families in shelters, these donations meant:

• Dignity – Clean clothes and basic toiletries when they had nothing.

• Relief – Pet food for their animals.

• Hope – Knowing strangers cared enough to help.

  
  

If You’re Reading This…

You don’t need to wait for a disaster to make a difference:

• Support local hubs and small businesses that step up in hard times.

• Volunteer your time and energy where it’s needed.

• Donate truly useful things.

• Stay connected so you can respond quickly when something happens.

And if you want to be part of our next delivery, join Kindness Delivered. It’s how we make sure we’re ready to move when the need is urgent.

Fires Burn, But Kindness Lasts

January 9th will always be remembered as a day when the fires were still burning, but it’s also the day a meal prep company in Long Beach showed what it looks like to step up, and when dozens of others, including us, came together to help them help others.

That’s how communities get through hard times: together.