Simply starting up the ignition was a sound that single father Jacob Muñoz and his 12-year-old son, Lexander, hadn't heard for about a year. Without a car, they instead utilized Uber for their transportation.
"It just finally all caught up," Muñoz said. "Being a full-time parent, providing for him, providing for bills, car, not having the funds to make ends meet, and it all collapsed. It brought us here so my mom can help us gain stability again."
"It just forced us to kind of be homeless," Muñoz said. "And I didn't know what to do. I know I didn't want to turn around. I had a purpose here because of what brought me here. And I just didn't want to make another turn around to where I'm now struggling out there, as well. I figured if I can conquer it out here, then I can pretty much navigate elsewhere."
On Dec. 19, after Family Promise of San Joaquin County nominated Muñoz, and after Fabian Ceballos and his team did full detailing and repairs to a donated 2017 Hyundai Sonata from Liberty Mutual, they presented Muñoz with his new car.
Muñoz and his son are grateful and thankful for their new ride and he wants to be able to give back to help someone else's holiday a blessing, as well.
Jacob and Lexander enjoy going to the Stockton Ports baseball games together, as a father and son. Jacob MuñozAs is Ceballos, who's now given out 12 refurbished cars to the community. Muñoz was part of the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides program.
Ceballos said the donated car from Liberty Mutual was a stolen vehicle that was recovered and needed detailing and fixing up wear and tear, including the tires and brakes.
Ceballos told CBS Sacramento he helped gift a car to someone who couldn't afford repairs to pass the smog check, along with someone else who lost everything, including their car, to the Paradise Fire.
"The only thing that I could rely on is God when no one was there," Muñoz said. "But, also, two, you got to find something that you're passionate about."
For Muñoz, not having a car was something he just got used to; he adjusted to make ends meet, remaining positive amidst it all.
The drive he's had now carries into driving his son around. On the day he was gifted the car, he picked up his son from school in the new ride, with the trunk filled with Christmas gifts donated by the community. Lexander's favorite gift? Jacob said the Chipotle gift card because his son likes to eat.
Jacob Muñoz and his 12-year-old son, Lexander, were gifted a refurbished car after Fabian Ceballos and his team gave it a full detailing and repaired the 2017 Hyundai Sonata. Muñoz was without a car for about a year, taking Uber everywhere throughout Stockton. Now, he’s got… pic.twitter.com/uB4wR7cZQ7
— Charlie Lapastora (@charlielastory) December 29, 2025Ceballos encourages anyone who may need help with a new vehicle to come to his shop, and he can steer you in the right direction.
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