One North Texan has made it her mission to spread joy and give to those in need. She's this week's KRLD Difference Maker.
Drive around Fort Worth and you might see Netty Matthews giving things away to those in need.
Five years ago, she saw a homeless walking around in the cold without a coat and remembered she had several coats at home that she could have given him. She started putting coats and other useful items in her car to give to people in need.
What started as a kind gesture has morphed into a full blown one-woman campaign of giving.
"As I started seeing how much need there was, I would post on facebook or ask my friends so usually around Thanksgiving, they'll start calling me to give me their coats after they clean out their closets," Netty said. "During the winter I usually have a trunk full, my back seat is full and my passenger seat is full of coats to giveaway."
It's no wonder. She says she got the giving spirit from her mother.
"As a kid she always made us stop if there was an accident on the side of the road and her comment would be, 'You're never too busy to help somebody,'" Netty said.
Even as she honors her late parents, she is giving to others.
On their birthdays she goes to a restaurant and tells employees to pick a family and buy their dinner.
"For me it's a way for me to honor and remember my parents. It's kind of a way for me to add energy to world based on who they were," Netty said.
We're proud to call Netty Matthews this weeks KRLD Difference Maker.
"Nothing brings me more joy," she said.
If you know someone making a difference in the community, send us an email at differencemaker@krld.com.
