05/15/2026
From one of our Casanova neighbors…….
“It has been six weeks since a fire forced residents to evacuate Casanova Plaza Apartments in the middle of the night, leaving with just the clothes on our backs. While many of us have found new apartments, we are still unable to access our belongings at Casanova Plaza due to safety concerns.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to the citizens of Monterey County who extended support during this challenging period. Several organizations who many of us never knew of, such as CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and All-In Monterey County, immediately aided with food, clothing and assistance.
I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the firefighters from Monterey, Seaside, Pacific Grove, Salinas, and surrounding areas for rescuing us, as well as local Police Department County Sheriff, and Paramedic/EMTs, for ensuring our safety.
Special thanks go to Greg and the CERT team, who promptly arrived on site with blankets and chairs and later accompanied us to a temporary shelter at the Monterey Hyatt Regency where they compiled a list of our needed medications so the firefighters could retrieve them.
I am also grateful to the Hyatt Regency for providing immediate shelter, and to the Country Inn Marina for their ongoing hospitality. The Housing Authority of Monterey County staff worked diligently to assist us in finding new homes, supported by Mangold Properties.
Acknowledgment is due to the Red Cross, which provided $300 Bankcards for essential purchases, the Salvation Army Monterey Corps for daily breakfast, laundry services, gas and grocery cards and additional resources. Meals on Wheels ensured daily lunches, EPIC (Enhanced Pathways for Integrated Care) delivered various forms of community support, and SPCA Monterey cared for pets affected by the disaster.
The Monterey Peninsula Quilters Guild delivered a collection of beautiful handmade quilts that brought so much joy and comfort.
Many thanks to the local restaurants, churches, service organizations, and volunteers who generously supplied dinners, including: Old Fisherman’s Grotto, The Fish Hopper, Esteban, Woody’s Del Mesa, The Fishwife, Ho Wah Marina, The Lumpia Lady, Kona Jerry’s BBQ, St. Jude’s Knights of Columbus, Helping Hands Ministry, Bethel Baptist Church, Monterey Church Ministries, Hindu Temple Monterey, Venture Church, Carmel by The Sea Rotary, Santa Lucia Rotary, Passport Monterey Bay Rotary, Marina Fil-Am Club, Monterey Bay Boatworks, Gonzales Adventure Seeking Seniors, Juan & Rose Silva, Monica Lal, April Celestino, Allyson Schweifler, Joy Gonzales Anderson, and Gracie Rubio.
Finally, I wish to recognize All-In Monterey for providing daily support with food, clothing, moving assistance, and crucial emotional care and kindness throughout this overwhelming experience.
The support we’ve received offers reassurance not only to those directly affected but to the wider community should disaster strike. When considering charitable donations, these organizations would be worthy recipients.”
A Casanova Plaza Survivor
