Stockton resident Jacob Muñoz and his son received a refurbished 2017 Hyundai Sonata on December 19. Muñoz, a single father, had lost his job and car and was relying on services like Uber for transportation. The car was provided by Fabian's Collision Center, in partnership with Liberty Mutual and Family Promise of San Joaquin County, according to CBS News Sacramento.
Jacob Muñoz and his son received a car through the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides program, which has donated over 3,500 vehicles since 2007. Muñoz had lost his job, faced housing instability, and experienced the loss of his aunt followed by eviction. The car will provide transportation to maintain full-time work and support his family. Kayla Thompson, program manager at Family Promise of San Joaquin, said, "Jacob is an incredibly deserving father whose life will be deeply impacted by the gift of a car," as reported by Record Net.
Muñoz continued supporting his son and the community despite hardships. In an interview with CBS News Sacramento, he said, "The only thing that I could rely on is God when no one was there," and added, "But, also, two, you got to find something that you're passionate about," explaining that he plans to use his painting skills to improve homes in Stockton. Fabian Ceballos, CEO of Fabian's Collision Center, a 2025 Best of San Joaquin Community's Choice Award winner, said, "When we think that we have problems, we need to be humble about it because somebody can in be a more difficult situation than us," and encouraged people needing vehicle assistance to contact the shop.
