Earlier this year, when devastating wildfires forced evacuations and destroyed homes across Los Angeles, the community sprang into action to help families who lost their homes or needed to evacuate.
While local firefighters and volunteers tirelessly worked to contain the fires, American Red Cross volunteers from across the country made themselves available and traveled to LA to help deliver supplies and transport people in need of the most assistance.
Thanks to the volunteers who flew in from out of town, there were plenty of helping hands, but a key item – especially in LA – was missing. The traveling volunteers did not have a method of transportation to deliver food, clothing and other necessities.
Fortunately, through connections with the American Red Cross, New Century Mazda in suburban Los Angeles, was at the ready to provide a fleet of loaner cars to get volunteers on the road.
“When we were asked to help here, it was an absolute no-brainer,” said David Lillard, VP of Operations & Planning at New Century Mazda. “Of course, we will offer the Red Cross access to vehicles on our lot to help the fire victims.”
Within just a few days of being contacted, more than a dozen American Red Cross volunteers were hitting the road to help displaced families in vehicles provided by the dealership, a place where Daniel Lin, the current owner, grew up.
A Sense of Community
New Century Mazda is where Lin grew up. When he was four years old, his parents took ownership of the dealership and since then, he has been deeply rooted in the local community. When the fires hit, this sense of community was heightened as families like Lin’s and many of his daughter’s classmates were forced to evacuate. As many people lost everything, including the families of his wife’s co-workers, this support meant everything.
“For us, personally, there was a disproportionate high number of people we know who weren't just affected by the fires, but lost everything,” Lin said. “Even after two and a half months, some of them are still not settled and are bouncing between different relatives’ homes. It [losing a home] can be pretty devastating, so we wanted to offer as much support as we could.”
Lin credits his team – notably general manager Carlos Rolon and service manager Jeff Liu – for their tireless efforts to provide vehicles to American Red Cross volunteers so quickly.
Meeting Unique Needs
“Ultimately, the American Red Cross repurposed our vehicles into utility type vehicles,” said Lui. “They provided food and supplies to the community, transporting victims of the fires back and forth from shelters and getting them to work.”
Knowing the vehicles would be used as utility vehicles, the team at New Century Mazda provided larger vehicles like the CX-90 and CX-70 so every trip had the opportunity to make the biggest impact and transport more people and supplies.
In the face of the devastating loss that is far from over, the story of New Century Mazda and the American Red Cross volunteers is a reminder that even small acts of generosity can make a significant difference. The swift action between New Century Mazda and American Red Cross volunteers from across the country is a testament to the resilience of Los Angeles and the power of community support as the city rebuilds.
Thank you to the American Red Cross volunteers and New Century Mazda for making a tangible difference in the lives of families struggling to recover from the devastating fires. To support the ongoing recovery efforts, please consider donating to the American Red Cross or supporting local businesses that are helping the community rebuild.
