50 City of Hope Volunteers Rebuild Helen's 62-Year Home

When Helen Montanez returned to see volunteers working on her Altadena property, she could barely hold back tears as she exchanged hugs with strangers who had become family.

The 90-year-old had watched news coverage of the Palisades Fire with sympathy, never imagining she'd face the same fate hours later. When her daughter called that night urging her to evacuate, Helen saw no smoke and went back to bed.

An hour later, she opened her window to discover everything had turned black outside. By morning, the Eaton Fire had consumed the home where she'd raised six children over 62 years.

"It's like a dream," Helen said as she greeted the construction crew. "They come and help from their heart."

On Thursday, about 50 City of Hope volunteers joined the rebuild effort spearheaded by San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity. The project goes beyond restoring Helen's house. Her daughter's family and granddaughter's family will also have homes on the property after losing theirs in the same fire.

Helen's son Dan called losing their childhood home "like a nightmare." Seeing volunteers bring life back to Altadena has made their dream of returning feel possible again.

Sunny's Take

Dr. Loretta Erhunmwunsee, City of Hope's Vice President, explained why her team showed up. "For us, this was a no-brainer," she said. "Altadena is a community for us. It's where many of our patients live and many of our employees."

The volunteers aren't just rebuilding walls and roofs. They're restoring a family hub where three generations will gather again, where memories were made for over six decades, where life centered on togetherness.

Helen already has plans for when construction finishes: she's invited every volunteer to stop by during the holidays for a grand open house.

Three generations of one family will have homes again, thanks to neighbors who chose to spend their free time making dreams come true.