Staffers at the Southwest Community Center in Santa Ana grieve over a fire at the facility, which has been serving meals to the needy for more than 30 years and was getting ready to host its annual Christmas meal this Saturday. At center is Connie Jones, director of the center, with longtime volunteers Elsa Alvarado, left, and Jessie Allen. Jones is the granddaughter of Annie Mae Tripp, the center’s founder. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Workers board up the offices of the Southwest Community Center on West Second Street in Santa Ana. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
The fire at the Southwest Community Center destroyed $50,000 in food and holiday gifts that was to have been distributed to the needy. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Soup kitchen volunteers hug and cry in the wake of the fire. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
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A Lakers bobblehead doll -- one of the gifts that was to have been distributed at the Southwest Community Center’s holiday meal in Santa Ana -- was among the fire casualties. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Longtime employee David Escobedo looks through the rubble after fire damaged the Southwest Community Center in Santa Ana. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
From left, Jessie Allen, David Escobedo, Connie Jones and Timothy Tripp console each other after fire damaged the Southwest Community Center in Santa Ana. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
