Community helping Marine, family rebuild following Valley Fire

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- Staff Sergeant Benson Genetiano lived in Hidden Valley Lake, just outside of Middletown, with his pregnant wife, Sarah, and their two daughters. Like countless others, they lost everything to the Valley Fire.

They moved into a nearby hotel as insurance worked on getting them a rental home.

Despite that, Genetiano kept going to work at the Marine Recruiting Office in Santa Rosa.

But eventually, it came out and now some military advocacy groups are stepping in to help him.

"We noticed a change in him but he was just going about his business. He was just trying to take care of himself. But that's not how we do things, we take care of each other," James Brown.

Brown is with the non-profit group Wine Country Marines.

He heard about Genetiano's situation and reached out to other military advocacy groups. So far, $2,000 has been donated to the family along with clothing and furniture.

Another military wife, who doesn't know the Genetiano's personally, is throwing Sarah a baby shower.

"We're always the ones to give to others and help them, so it's different being on the other end. But there's so many people helping us, it's unbelievable. We're very grateful," said Sarah.

To find out how you can help the Genetianos, click here.