Champaign- In a surprising twist, the recipient family of the Extreme Home Makeover was not even home when they found out they won! Ty Pennington and his crew surprised the Montgomery Family at the Salt and Light Ministry in Champaign.

Nathan Montgomery is the executive director of the ministry.

The Montgomerys were notified a short time ago that they were a Top 5 finalist for the extreme home makeover. The show told them they needed extra footage to help make their final selection this week. So, the family and other Salt and Light workers gathered at the ministry in Champaign Tuesday for what they thought was simply a taping. It turned out to be the surprise.

As the family and other Salt and Light volunteers organized clothes in the ministry's warehouse, Ty Pennington snuck in a side door. "Nathan and his family were standing right in here, working sorting clothing," Salt and Light Ministry CFO Scott Olthoff says.

"He came sneaking around and about right where that couch is and he yelled

'Hey Montgomery family!' and we all turned around and it was a big surprise."

At that moment the Montgomerys knew their humble home in Philo would be getting a makeover. "Nathan just turned around and ran and gave him a big hug very emotional very emotional," Olthoff says.

Many people agree the Montgomerys are a perfect fit for this surprise.

"Nathan Montgomery obviously the director of Salt and Light, couldn't be a better recipient for this honor," Eastern Illinois Foodbank Director Jim Hires says.

The ministry provides food, clothing, and hope to hundreds of people in our community every week. "There will be the numbers that show up every week, but how many auxiliary lives are touched by that? It's countless," Hires says.

After the initial surprise at the ministry, the family hopped on the Extreme Makeover bus and headed to their home.

Reported by: Ryann MonahanHow the Extreme Makeover Family Found Out