Family of 5-year-old boy killed in June amazed by outpouring of
community support
By Rachelle Gines Staff Writer
Gilroy – In spite of sweltering 112 degree weather, about 200 people came out to a car show and barbecue fundraiser Sunday in memory of Brayan Trejo, the latest show of community support for the 5-year-old boy who was killed in June while crossing an intersection close to his home.
Saul Gonzalez, one of the main organizers characterized the event as a success.
“It was a great turn-out, even though it was really, really, hot,” Gonzalez said of the event that took place in the parking lot of Dutchman’s Pizza on Chestnut Street. “The people of Gilroy were heartfelt. They came together, and donated their time on a hot day, when I’m sure they would have rather been at home in the air conditioning.”
Jesus Mendoza-Trejo Sr., said the event raised about $1,700 for the Trejo Family Trust Fund. Gonzalez said the Glen View Alliance for Neighbors Achieving Success, GANAS, the non-profit organization responsible for hosting the fundraiser will contribute an additional $250 to the fund. In addition, the John S and James L. Knight Foundation, which partly funds GANAS, pledged to match the event’s donations dollar for dollar, for an extra $1,700, for a total of $3,650.
“I want to thank everyone so much,” Mendoza-Trejo Sr. said.
In a phone conversation Wednesday, Mendoza-Trejo said in Spanish through his daughter Marisela Trejo, that the funeral and burial should have cost $11,000, but thanks to the generosity of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Habing Family Funeral Home, the final total was close to $4,000. Other donations prior to the barbecue totaled about $11,000, he said.
However, Mendoza-Trejo said he became very worried after recently receiving a bill from the helicopter company for $20,000.
“I don’t know why we have to pay this,” Trejo-Mendoza said, noting that the family is insured by Kaiser. “The helicopter didn’t even take Brayan. He went by ambulance to the hospital instead.”
Mendoza-Trejo said he is planning to meet in person with representatives from the helicopter company sometime today.
Though the hot weather did present some problems at the barbecue, they were easily handled thanks to volunteers and community donors. Gonzalez’s brother, a manager at the 10th Street Taco Bell, donated 10 garbage bags of ice, since all the major supermarkets in Gilroy were sold out. The heat also caused the Gilroy Safeway to run out of the 20 cases of water they promised to donate, but organizers were still able to get the water from the Morgan Hill Safeway instead.
“We had enough supplies, and we didn’t run out of water. There were plenty of chairs and plenty of shade,” Gonzalez said. “The only downfall was the weather. If it was cooler there probably would have been more people.”
Brayan Trejo was riding his scooter alongside his 13-year-old brother Jesus Trejo in the crosswalk of Church and 10th streets on the afternoon of June 27, when a Gilroy woman struck and killed him with her truck. A community-maintained memorial still sits at the site of the accident, and city engineers are studying a plan that might result in a dedicated left-hand turn signal at the intersection.
Jesus Trejo Jr. said he enjoyed everything about the barbecue, from the four hot dogs and three snow-cones he ate, to the face painting and the music. But one thing in particular stood out in his mind.
“I take boxing lessons sometimes, and the best part was when I met Robert ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero,” Jesus Trejo said. “He gave me a signed picture and book of him, but I got to take a picture of me with him too,” he said adding that his favorite car in the car show was black with flames painted on the side.
Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, Gilroy native and North American Boxing Federation Champion could not be reached for comment.
Jesus Trejo Jr.’s sister, 19-year-old Marisela Trejo, said that about 20 of her relatives from Salinas and San Jose, as well as Gilroy came to the event. She said that her family continues to be overwhelmed by local support.
“My parents wish to thank the organizers,” Marisela Trejo said. “My parents said that my little brother Brayan had a lot of helpers, but that he didn’t even know it.”
With 20 entries in the car show, Gonzalez said he was pleased with the turn out. He said cars from the ’40s, ’50s and ’70s showed well, but that people were really excited to see a new, gray Cadillac Escalade.
“It was really cool, because most people there had never been close to that kind of car,” Gonzalez said.
At the end of barbecue, Gonzalez said he was still amazed by the outpouring of support from the community.
“Some people came at the beginning of the day for the barbecue, but wound up becoming volunteers in the end,” Gonzalez said.
