Julia Williams

Editor-in-Chief

As dawn broke on Jan. 7 throughout the west coast, an eruption of flames and smoke overwhelmed Los Angeles County, devastating communities and forcing mass evacuations throughout Southern California including the areas of Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Castaic and the Hollywood Hills, among others. 

Throughout the month of January, the Los Angeles Fire Department fought to extinguish these blazes as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellites were used to track conditions, according to the NOAA website. Three of these wildfires — Palisades, Eaton and Hughes — which have burned a total of 47,894 acres, are now over 96% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. 

While over 1,300 miles from the area ablaze — which was declared a State of Emergency on Jan. 7 by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to his website — two Kansas City residents worked to fundraise for the city they call home. 

Jackie Nguyen — owner of Columbus Park Vietnamese cafe and coffee shop, Cafe Cà Phê — and James Chang — owner of JChang Kitchen, a Kansas City pop-up eatery and homemade sauce business — hosted a hot dog pop-up event Monday, Jan. 20 at Nguyen’s Cafe Cà Phê (916 E. Fifth St.), gifting all proceeds — which totaled to $3400 — to three California charities: Los Angeles (LA) Firefighters, the California Community Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund and the International Community Foundation. 95% of the event costs were also funded by Allstate Fire Midwest — a supplier of fire protection equipment based out of Blue Springs, Mo. — Chang shared. 

Chang — the chef from this campaign — said that while he is not an LA native, he has always thought of the area as a second home. 

“It’s the only other place I’ve lived in my life,” Chang said in an interview. “A couple ladies who live out there, I grew up with — [they’re] big sisters to me. It’s one of those things, you know someone, they’re not in your immediate circle anymore but you start to worry.” 

This fundraiser offered LA-style hot dogs for the community to purchase in support, which Chang said he felt a personal connection to — emphasizing these single menu items were not a coincidence. 

LA-style hot dogs, which were available for purchase Cà Phê during a fundraiser, Jan. 20 to support Southern California wildfire relief. | Photo courtesy of Cafe Cà Phê

“One of my first memories (from moving to California) was going to the flea market in LA and they had a hot dog that was bacon wrapped [with] ketchup and mustard — [it was] one of my first bites in LA,” Chang said in an interview.

While Chang said temperatures were frigidly low on Jan. 20, it didn’t stop Northeast residents and the Kansas City community from weathering the cold and wrapping around the outside of the building. 

“It brought and fostered a sense of community,” Chang said in an interview. “It was overwhelming and just such a positive vibe; Everyone was patient, it put a little bit of faith back into humanity. It’s still kind of emotional for me — one of the most fulfilling days of my life.” 

Cafe Cà Phê and JChang Kitchen partner to host fundraiser. All proceeds from this event went toward California Wildfire relief charities. | Photo courtesy of Cafe Cà Phê

Nguyen, who was born and raised in San Diego, said she was looking for any way she could help. 

“Me and James did something that we could, and for me, it’s like just seeing the outpour from the community — they felt the same way,” Nguyen said in an interview. 

Cafe Cà Phê, which is now entering its third-year, began and operated as a food truck for two years prior to moving to its current location along Fifth Street. 

Nguyen said she was looking to create a space that could connect the community to her culture, which includes her Southern California roots. 

She said she chose this location within Columbus Park as it most resembled a traditional San Diego Pho restaurant. 

“I’m very passionate about being from California,” Nguyen said in an interview. “If you’re from southern California, when you walk into the shop [hopefully] you would feel at home.” 

It was this mission of community, which Nguyen and Chang shared, that remains a core foundation of Cafe Cà Phê, which contributed to the support and funds raised. 

Along with the $3400 raised in Nguyen and Chang’s fundraiser, Nguyen said Cafe Cà Phê donated an additional $1,000 from its proceeds toward the LA Wildfire assistance. 

While Cafe Cà Phê does not have plans for additional fundraising at this time, Chang and his business, JChang Kitchen, held a second hot dog pop-up Tuesday, Jan. 28 at Chingu Kansas City Korean Bar and Restaurant in Westport (4117 Pennsylvania Ave.), which sold out.