Listen to this article
When the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena, California, Jan. 7, 2025, scorching more than 14,000 acres, single mom Monique Carlo and her three kids had no time to gather belongings—they fled with only the clothes they wore.
“It was one of those moments where you kind of can’t believe it’s happening to you,” Carlo said.
Flames consumed their family home in hours, leaving only the faint outline of what had once been a lively property, filled with antique collector cars and 12 pet chickens, all lost in the blaze.
The disaster struck only weeks after Carlo’s father passed away, deepening an already painful chapter of grief.
“We lost absolutely everything at once,” she said. “All we could do was be grateful we still had each other—we were alive.”
Following everything they had endured, support from the community began to arrive, bringing aid, resources and a glimmer of hope for the family. Carlo said they even started joking that the kids now had more clothes than they did before the fire, thanks to countless donations.
The family moved into a smaller, temporary space while figuring out their next steps and began to plan the process of rebuilding. Their car, however, was starting to fail and required costly repairs.
“I began to worry because having a car helped keep our lives somewhat normal,” she said. “Being able to get to work and school was something I just couldn’t picture losing.”
Looking for a solution, Carlo learned about a vehicle replacement initiative for wildfire survivors organized through The Salvation Army and signed up, hoping it would help her family regain some stability.
“A few weeks later, I got a call saying we were one of the recipients—it felt surreal,” Carlo said. “Just remembering that phone call makes me emotional still.”
Keys to a New Beginning
To help families like the Carlos family recover, Genesis Motor, the luxury vehicle brand of Hyundai Motor Company, committed $8 million in vehicle donations and cash contributions to support families and communities affected by the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.
In addition, they partnered with The Salvation Army Southern California Division to get 28 Genesis GV70 SUVs to survivors in need.
“Genesis is honored to stand alongside The Salvation Army in supporting families who have endured unimaginable hardship following the Los Angeles wildfires,” said Tedros Mengiste, Chief Operating Officer of Genesis Motor North America. “We hope to provide not just transportation, but a renewed sense of freedom, mobility, and optimism as these families rebuild.”
The Carlos family joined 27 other recipients and their families at a celebratory giveaway hosted Nov. 14 at The Salvation Army Southern California Divisional Headquarters.
After filling out paperwork and receiving their keys, all made their way to the back parking lot, where rows of new gleaming cars, each adorned with an oversized red ribbon, awaited the families.
“It’s like a holiday movie,” Carlo said. “We just can’t believe the kindness and care we’ve been shown.”
Guiding Families Forward
The car is just one part of a larger recovery effort. Beyond the giveaway, The Salvation Army continues to support survivors directly through Disaster Case Managers, who have assisted over 500 individuals since June 2025.
Staff work one-on-one with families to assess needs, connect them with resources such as housing, and coordinate rebuilding efforts. After the fires, Carlo worked with a Case Manager to help her family find their current home—just five minutes from their old neighborhood.
“When Disaster Case Managers open a case, we assess the need, vet the family, and create a plan to help them get back to a similar living situation as before the fire,” said Nicholas Nguyen, Divisional Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) and Service Extension Director for The Salvation Army Southern California Division.
Nguyen added that the role supports families by handling logistics and linking them to resources, allowing them to focus on restoring their homes and routines. About half of the Genesis vehicle recipients are currently receiving this hands-on support.
“People who have lost their home due to a disaster are often new to experiencing homelessness,” Nguyen said. “It can be quite overwhelming and taxing for them to figure out what they need to do.”
According to Nguyen, support for families through Disaster Case Managers will continue as long as the need is there. With that ongoing help—and a new car—families like Carlos are feeling hopeful for the future.
“It’s hard to feel like we have to start over,” Carlo said. “But knowing there’s a community supporting us—people who see our struggles and want to help—makes it a little easier.”
She said their plan is to rebuild their home on the family property, but they are currently waiting for the insurance company to assess the land while also working with the planning department to secure building permits.
“We have a long journey ahead of us,” Carlo said. “But we have faith that we’ll be back to where we once were, and with the support of our community, we’ll rebuild stronger than before.”
Do Good:
- Interrupt the free flow of junk (e)mail with something good. Get the Do Good Digest—our free, 3-minute weekly newsletter from Caring Magazine that 20k+ hopeful readers trust for a quick pick-me-up and a dose of purpose in a busy day.
Download this page as a PDF
