A North Texas man and dozens of volunteers are repairing homes and hearts, helping the people who need it most. They're this week's KRLD Difference Makers.
Rodney Gattis has a different view of many communities in North Texas..
"It's something that is just there and I think all too often its just unseen," Gattis said. "People are handicapped, elderly, disabled, single parents with children who need help and their homes are starting to deteriorate and they just don't have the funds.
That's where Gattis comes in, with dozens of volunteers, through his non-profit called The Mended Network.
Gattis and dozens of volunteers get together to do desperately needed home repairs for those in need, free of charge.
"Cleaning up the yard, we're doing fence repairs and handyman type stuff but it can be as much as repainting siding, painting the outside of the home," Gattis said.
The Mended Network is funded through private donations and partnerships, like the one with Haltom City.
"We started this partnership because we knew there was a need here for revitalization in certain areas. We also realize that there are deserving people who have fallen on hard times maybe with an illness. It could a single parent that needs help to make sure their property remains code compliant," said Rex Phelps, City Manager for Haltom City.
Partnerships like these are repairing homes and changing lives.
"Most of them are overwhelmed with the fact that someone cares about them and that they are not in this world alone and that they're not fighting the issues of disability or just lack of funds by themselves. I think it's an amazing thing to be a part of when you're at the project and you see not only the homeowners faces light up because they're getting some help but the volunteers. It's a life-changing event in some cases," Gattis said.
We're proud to call The Mended Network and Haltom City this week's KRLD Difference Maker.
"I think it's about as honorable a thing as you can have, is to have people, like the Mended Network, that want to give back to the community and help people in need," Phelps said. "To me that's what its all about, we're supposed to be here to lend a helping hand whenever we can."
You can apply for help through the Mended Network.
If you know someone making a difference in the community, send us an email at differencemaker@krld.com.