UNION GAP — Her eyes welled up. Her heart pounded, and she worried she would faint.

For nine months, Julie Cruz had waited while construction workers remodeled her house. She heard rumors of walls being torn down and of rooms being added. But when she stepped across the threshold for the first time Friday, she felt like she was entering a dream.

“Oh my God,” she cried, taking in the hardwood floors, custom cabinetry and new appliances. “It’s beautiful!”

Clapping with delight, she made her way into the kitchen.

“Look at this! Look at this!” she exclaimed, pointing to the dishwasher and the window above her sink. “I don’t know if I can take any more.”

When Cruz, 62, last lived in the 1,300-square-foot house at 2713 Fourth St., she used the oven for heat. The plumbing leaked, the electrical system was faulty and she spent her nights on the living room couch, surrounded by boxes of clothing, kitchenware and home decor items she collected for the poor.

Now, the house is a showpiece — thanks to $200,000 in donated cash, supplies and labor from a community eager to repay her for all she’s given them over the years.

Nearly 100 of Cruz’s friends, family and neigh-bors held an unveiling celebration on Friday.

“I’m happy. She had no idea this was coming,” said  Bradley Meyer, owner  of Top Knotch Construction in Yakima, one of scores of businesses and individuals who contributed to the project.“The last year of work here was worth the half-hour reaction from her. Her life has been changed.”

Tough circumstances

Twice widowed, Cruz raised four children of her own before assuming custody of six grandsons who had been living in an unstable home, suffering from depression, violent outbursts and low self-esteem. Cruz was determined to change that.  

She obtained public assistance — her only source of income — to feed and clothe her family, and she struggled to secure the professional counseling they needed.

Just when Cruz was getting her life in order, one of her grandsons, Stephen, was hit by a train in April 2007. She stayed by his bed-

side for months, willing him to live. After months in a hospital and later an assisted living facility, he returned home the following September. Now a 17-year-old Eisenhower High School sophomore, he uses a wheelchair and walker and continues to undergo physical therapy.

While most people would be overwhelmed by such circumstances, Cruz worked to better her community.

She formed a 12-member support group for grandparents raising second families. She started a donation bank for the needy, and she became a participant and advocate for Casey Family Programs, an organization dedicated to improving foster care.

Her selflessness is why Eric Torres didn’t hesitate to pledge his support.

“Julie gives of herself to help others,” said Torres, owner of Pacific Contracting in Yakima. “That’s what Christianity is all about. For that reason alone, I’m in.”

No TV ‘Makeover’

More than a year ago, Cruz was a finalist for the television show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” an Emmy Award-winning reality TV series that provides home renovations for deserving families. She was nominated for the show by Casey Family Programs and a longtime friend, Sharon Adams.

But when producers decided not to film in Washington, Adams began calling Torres and others to see what the community could provide.

“Julie gives more than she has. She makes me want to be a better person,” Adams said. “I’m amazed at the volunteer support.”

Under the umbrella of the Central Washington Homebuilders Association, scores of people and businesses — including ProBuild, All Around Underground Inc. and Current Concepts — donated time, labor and materials.Don Copp, owner of a Papa Murphy’s pizza franchise, also helped by giving Cruz and her family a free place to stay while the remodel was in progress.

The work included gutting the modest house and outfitting it with new electric, heating and plumbing systems. A bedroom and bathroom suite was built for Cruz, and a garage and storage area was constructed in the backyard for the donations she collects for charity. The house was also insulated, installed with a security system and made wheelchair-accessible for Stephen.

Despite the upgrades, Cruz won’t pay additional property taxes because she qualifies for a senior exemption. She will share the home with four teenage grandchildren and her grown son.

“The thing is really wicked,” said Stephen, lounging on the bottom bunk of his skateboard-themed room. “It’s crazy. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but I wasn’t expecting this.”

Calvin, the oldest grandson, was also amazed. If anyone deserves a gift like this, it’s his grandmother, he said.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s something you would never think could happen,” he said. “Hearing my grandma so excited feels so good.”

Even Cruz had trouble believing her eyes. Followed by a crowd of well-wishers, she repeatedly yelled, “Oh my God!, Oh My God!” as she made her way from room to room.

But when she reached her own bedroom, the tears really began falling.

“I feel like I’m going on a first date with someone I really like. You get that giddy feeling,” she said. “I feel that way with this house. I feel like a young girl. I’m just speechless.”

• Erin Snelgrove can be reached at 509-577-7684 or esnelgrove@yakimaherald.com.