Here is a touching story coming out of the Grace Brethren church in Simi Valley, California (John McIntosh, pastor). This is an excerpt–to read the entire story, click here.

Cars 4 Causes(R) Brings Christmas Early to Family Struck by Tragedy

Cars 4 Causes Partners with Grace Brethren Church to Donate Much Needed Vehicle to Christina and her son.

VENTURA, Calif., Dec 19, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Cars 4 Causes(R), “The Charity That Gives to Charities”(R), today announced its donation of a Plymouth Breeze car to the Grace Brethren Church for gifting to Christina and her son Nicholas. Knowing that Cars 4 Causes’ Car Give-Away Program helps those in need, the Grace Brethren Church in Simi Valley referred Christina to Cars 4 Causes at a time when a family tragedy changed her life and left her and her son in desperate need of transportation. At 11am today in Ventura, California, Cars 4 Causes presented Christina with the gift of this donated vehicle, bringing Christmas early for her and her son.

Christina and her husband, together with their 3-year old son Nicholas, were in the process of moving from Colorado back to their native California to live in their first new home in Simi Valley. Christina and Nicholas were in the lead vehicle, her husband was driving a rented U-Haul moving truck and Christina’s best friend was following behind in a third vehicle. Only two hours into the drive something went terribly wrong and Christina’s husband crashed into a bridge support beam. The crash caused all of the truck’s contents to scatter across the highway, destroying nearly everything the couple owned, including their car that was being towed behind the U-Haul. Christina’s husband was killed instantly in the crash. Medical examiners have been unable to determine what went wrong, but it is speculated that he may have suffered a seizure and lost consciousness while driving.

Christina’s best friend witnessed the crash and called Christina’s cell phone in the lead vehicle to tell her what had happened. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Christina turned to her church, the Grace Brethren Church in Simi Valley for support and guidance in piecing her life back together. Members of the church suggested that, with their support, she contact Cars 4 Causes for help in finding a car for her and her son.