Holiday surprise for family who lost home in Thomas Fire

Anabel Munoz Image
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Holiday surprise for family who lost home in Thomas Fire
Joanna Tracy and her family are one of hundreds who lost it all in the Thomas Fire.

Joanna Tracy and her family are one of hundreds who lost it all in the Thomas Fire.

"Almost everything leveled to the ground," said Tracy as she described what her home looked like after the fire ravaged their Ojai neighborhood.

The same friend who introduced Tracy and her now fiancé, decided to help.

On a whim, Kayla Denny wrote to the Helpful Honda Guys.

"I was like, I'm just going to do it," said Denny.

Monday morning as Denny and Tracy walked into Walmart, a Helpful Honda Guy stopped them and surprised Tracy with a shopping spree to replace the gifts the family lost in the fire, a $600 gift card, a Christmas tree and a one-month stay at an Airbnb home.

Having a place to stay for the holidays is especially meaningful for Tracy, who says the children have been staying with family members as she and her fiancé try to find stable housing.

"We've been sleeping on air mattress and different places, and it's not fair to them to be bouncing around," she said.

"It means the world to me to have the opportunity to have my family together and make a meal for my family," she added.

Taking it day by day, Tracy is staying positive for the kids and is also thinking of all of the families affected by the Thomas Fire.

"I just want to say thank you to Helpful Honda and to Walmart, to Kayla and to everybody who lost anything at all, my heart goes out to them."