Jennifer Garner “lost a friend” in L.A. wildfires, feels guilt walking through her unscathed Pacific Palisades home

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Jennifer Garner has been a resident of the Pacific Palisades community for a quarter-century and experienced a personal loss when a friend perished in the devastating fires that swept through the area.

The Alias star spoke with MSNBC while surveying the destruction alongside chef Jose Andres, whose World Central Kitchen organization is providing meals to affected residents and emergency responders.

“I've lived in and around the Palisades for 25 years, so I just think all of us, we want to get our hands into working, somehow, to be helpful,” Jennifer said. “And because of my work with Save The Children, we have a relationship with the chef, and I was able to just say, ‘Can I be with you for the day? What can I do to help? Put me to work.'”

In her conversation with anchor Katy Tur, Jennifer revealed the heartbreaking news that a fellow church member lost their life in the fires, and she personally knows at least 100 individuals who have been displaced from their homes.

“I did lose a friend, and for our church, it's really tender so I don't feel like we should talk about it yet,” Jennifer said while becoming visibly emotional. “I did lose a friend. She didn't get out in time.”

She added, “My heart bleeds for my friends. I mean, I can think of 100 families, and there are 5,000 homes lost. I can, without even [thinking], I could just write out a list of 100 friends who lost their homes. I feel almost guilty walking through my house. You know, what can I do? How can I help? What can I offer? What do I have to offer with these hands and these walls and the safety that I have?”