RICHMOND, Texas — A husband and wife who lost everything in a Richmond apartment fire are slowly rebuilding their lives thanks to the outpouring of support from their community.
Manny Munoz and Ophelia Cantu said they only had time to rescue their two pets before the flames engulfed their apartment building on the night of Oct. 24. Richmond police said the 20 units in that building off Golfview Drive were destroyed and 40 to 45 residents were impacted.
“The two apartments next to us were already engulfed in flames, you know, and it was kind of traveling to our roof,” Munoz said. “It’s like something you see in a movie, you know, just like red, glowing orange, black smoke.”
The couple said everything inside their unit burned in the fire, including all the baby products and newborn essentials they received as gifts during a recent gender reveal party. Cantu is seven months pregnant and expecting a baby girl. She said losing the baby items hit her the hardest.
“To see it before our eyes too, and to not be able to do nothing about it, was very heartbreaking,” Cantu said.
Now, the couple is turning to the community for their help. On Sunday, they held a benefit where they sold $12 brisket sandwich meals to raise money.
People could either pay the money or donate diapers and other baby supplies. Several people came throughout the day to help the couple get back on their feet.
“I’m just so thankful to the community for coming together for us and fully equipping us for the future, literally,” Cantu said. “Every time they bring my baby stuff, I get so emotional. It’s just amazing.”
The benefit was held behind the barbershop in Rosenberg that Munoz just opened only four weeks ago. Donations from the community filled the inside of the shop. While many items were given to the couple on Sunday, they also received all sorts of donations throughout the past week – some from neighbors and some from complete strangers.
“I’ve had just random people who I’ve never seen in my life come in, ‘Hey, here’s deodorant, or here’s toothpaste or we brought some pampers for you,’ so it’s awesome how like they’re still really good-hearted people out there and the community really comes together when people need it,” Munoz said.
One of the strangers who wanted to help was Luis Magana. He said he saw a post online about the couple's struggle.
“She’s pregnant. They’re about to have a child and you know it’s a sad tragedy what they went through and they’re going through. We’re just trying to give a hand," Magana said.
Munoz and Cantu said they are still staying with friends, so they plan to use the money they raised to help find housing.
KHOU 11 News reached out to the Richmond Police Department to ask for an update on what may have caused the fire. We are still waiting to hear back.