La Conchita, CA January 10, 2005

When Mother Nature wrecks havoc, it's Human Nature to reach out to help the victims caught in the path of destruction.

On January 10, 2005, as a result of days of torrential rains in the area, a mighty river of mud was unleashed that buried La Conchita, CA, a small seaside community along Highway 101, some 20 miles south of Santa Barbara.

Of those who survived the impact of this gigantic wall of earth and debris, many found not only their homes demolished but also their vehicles. Immediately upon learning of the losses, we here at Cars 4 Causes ®, eager and pleased to be of assistance, made 38 car donations to residents of La Conchita desperately in need of transportation.

And now, the rest of the story ... As often happens, it is during times of adversity that the giver is the one who ends up receiving the greatest gifts.

As we met and got to know the people who lived in La Conchita, this small hamlet sitting quietly and unassumingly along the great Pacific Ocean, we were struck again and again by the fact that long before a mud slide wiped out their material possessions, they lived their lives reaching out and helping one another on a daily basis, motivated not by a sudden crisis or a great cause, but by the belief that this is simply the way neighbor treats neighbor.

We would like to thank the residents of La Conchita for reminding us of the true meaning of "community". Because the truth is, we all live in a "small community" of some type; our immediate neighborhood, our apartment complex, and where we work or attend school, places where each of us have the daily opportunity to reach out and help and support one another.

For those of us who work at Cars 4 Causes ®, these renewed lessons and watching tears changing to smiles are the real rewards for what we do.