Help Rebuild Hector’s AutoBody!

Story

Hello all, My name is Gabe, and I’m reaching out with a heavy heart to share some devastating news about my dad, Hector Lara. On May 24, 2025, an unexpected and aggressive fire tore through Hector’s AutoBody, the heart and soul of our family’s livelihood, destroying over 20 years of my father’s hard work in a matter of minutes. The fire started at around 4:45 PM and raged for nearly five hours before it was fully extinguished. The cause is still under investigation. In that short span of time, everything was lost. Thirteen of his cars, countless tools, equipment, materials, important files — all reduced to ash. But what hurts most is seeing my dad, a man who has poured his life, sweat, and passion into this shop, lose the place he built from the ground up. For over two decades, my dad has helped countless community members—neighbors, friends, and families, often going out of his way to assist those in need. He’s fixed cars for people who were involved in accidents and who couldn’t afford insurance repairs, lent tools to fellow mechanics, and offered honest, affordable service. His shop wasn’t just a business — it was an extension of who he is: generous, hardworking, and deeply committed to helping others. Now, we’re facing the unimaginable. With the shop gone, our main source of income has vanished overnight. Our family is doing our best to stay hopeful, to find light in this tragedy, and to believe that this painful ending is also the beginning of a new chapter. But we can’t do it alone. I’ve set up this GoFundMe to help support my family as we navigate the challenges ahead. Any amount, big or small, will make a world of difference as we try to rebuild not just a business, but the foundation of our lives . From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us, for believing in Hector’s AutoBody, and for helping us rise from the ashes. With deep gratitude, Gabe Lara