Dulce's Family Needs Your Support More Than Ever

In the early morning hours of July 31, Dulce Montalvo lost her battle for life. For the last four years, Dulce trudged two hours every Wednesday to my house to mop my floors, clean my bathrooms, wash, iron and fold my clothes, and dust my apartment.

As her friend C.T. Ostick said, "Dulce never had it easy and she never saw the downside of anything. She will be remembered as always being cheerful, helpful, and kind. And a great cook."

Now Dulce's family faces the daunting challenge of rebuilding their lives without the matriarch of the family. Dulce died of injuries sustained in a gas explosion on July 23. A young family member died. Dulce's daughter Laura, a breast cancer survivor, suffered a strong blow to the left eye and will need specialty care to save her vision. Dulce's granddaughter and grandson also sustained injuries. The family home is a total loss.

Dozens of you have already helped with financial contributions. Others have offered to cook meals, run errands, and offer other support.

No one deserves the horrible fate that has crashed down on this poor and humble family.

I had originally intended to take this fundraiser down at the end of this week but I have been asked to keep it live a little longer.

I will leave you with a thought from Leo Tolstoy:

"Only when a person forgets himself for the sake of another, and lives for another creature, only this kind of love can be called true love, and only in this love do we see the blessing and reward of life. This is the foundation of the world. Nothing can make our life, or the lives of other people, more beautiful than perpetual kindness."

Thank you for helping Dulce's family at this horrific time.