January wildfires disrupted daily life in parts of Los Angeles, and small businesses felt the hit fast. When streets closed, and customers stayed home, owners still had payroll, rent, and supplier invoices waiting.
DoorDash offered relief grants to LA small businesses affected by the fires. For operators trying to reopen and keep teams paid, a 10,000 dollar check can cover a short gap and buy time.
Recovery still depends on foot traffic returning and neighborhoods stabilizing, yet fast cash support can keep a temporary shutdown from turning into a permanent closure.
A Shutdown Happens Fast
Chef Sandra Cordero Berends runs Xuntos, a Spanish tapas spot in Santa Monica. When the Palisades Fire broke out, she closed early and watched the fire move closer to the restaurant. She had dealt with fires before, including the 2018 Woolsey Fire, yet that did not make this one easier.
Xuntos used the DoorDash grant to help cover staffing and keep the place running while nearby neighborhoods burned. Berends also worked with World Central Kitchen to feed firefighters and evacuees, offering free meals each day during a set window.
In Pasadena, the coffee and doughnut shop Hello, You’re Welcome ran into a different version of the same problem. The Eaton Fire pushed the business to close for weeks, then reopen with reduced hours for months.
Dulan on Crenshaw shared on social media how DoorDash helped them maintain their business and keep supporting those in need during those wildfires. For reference, Dulan shared over 30,000 free meals last year.
@doordash How @dulansoncrenshaw gave back to the community after the LA wildfires earlier this year ❤️ #doordash #dulanssoulfoodkitchen #soulfood #crenshaw #losangeles ♬ original sound – DoorDash
What The Grants Actually Do
A 10,000-dollar grant will not rebuild a neighborhood. It does cover ugly basics when cash flow breaks.
- payroll during shortened hours
- rent and utilities while the doors stay shut
- supplies needed to reopen
- time to figure out what comes next
DoorDash says the idea is tied to its own business model. Restaurants and local shops keep the platform alive, so keeping them open after a disaster matters.
The Bigger Recovery Money
DoorDash money is one piece. Los Angeles County also launched the LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Funds through the Department of Economic Opportunity.
Since January, the county funds awarded:
- 17.7 million dollars to 2,181 small businesses and nonprofits
- 5.7 million dollars to 2,892 workers
County officials described the goal as a full recovery for fire survivors.
A Year Later, The City Still Feels It
Business owners say traffic has improved, yet many areas are still below pre-fire levels. Some residents remain displaced, and fewer people living nearby means fewer customers.
Berends says Xuntos is doing well again and plans to move out of survival mode with menu updates and collaborations. The Pasadena shop owners say revenue still has not fully returned, yet community support has stayed strong.
Grants do not fix everything. They stop the free fall. In a disaster, that can be the whole difference.
