Published On: December 22nd, 2013By Leticia Fehling

Gallery Furniture Helps 2 Aldine ISD Families During Holiday Season

In the two weeks leading up to the midwinter break (students begin midwinter break Dec. 23 and return to classes on Jan. 6, 2014), Jim McIngvale (also known as Mattress Mack) and the folks at Gallery Furniture helped two Aldine ISD families who had lost their homes to fires by providing them with furniture.

The Maldonado Family received the big surprise on Friday, Dec. 13. Leticia Maldonado and her twin sons Alexis and Edgar Niño, who attend Hambrick Middle School, could not believe their eyes when they saw the Gallery Furniture truck parked outside their trailer. The crew from Gallery Furniture unloaded beds, couches, artwork and everything they could need to make the Maldonado’s’ home fully furnished.

The two eighth graders also had strong support from their school principal, Dr. Rebecca Hoyt, and a number of their teachers who were also present to lend a hand. The Hambrick Middle staff members also collected items — clothes, linens, blankets, and other household items — to donate to the family. Chatney Hines of Hambrick Middle School also received support for the family. Her husband, Landren Hines, is a coach at the University of Houston. She asked the other coaches’ wives at UH to support the family and they came through by providing a microwave, TV, and some other necessary household items.

Leticia Maldonado reacts to news of having been named a recipient of Gallery Furniture’s Christmas Giveaway.

Leticia Maldonado was overwhelmed with emotion. Through tears she expressed how grateful she was to the folks at Gallery Furniture and how thankful she was to have so much support from the staff at Hambrick Middle.

Hoyt was also overcome by emotion to see the family’s reaction and the kindness bestowed to the Maldonado Family.

“Words cannot express what it means to see a child smile when they feel they have lost everything other than one another,” said Hoyt. “The boys came to school two days after the tragedy with their heads held high and never uttering one word of discontent. They were just happy to be here, around their friends, teachers, and people that care about them.

“Mattress Mack has a good heart. He truly changes people’s lives for the better. He is a angel working overtime!”

Kujawa-Elementary-Gallergy-Furniture-Donation

The Ruiz Family reacts to the news of being selected as a recipient of Gallery Furniture’s Christmas Giveaway.

The second family to be helped was the Ruiz Family. Ricardo, his wife Eva ad their son Ricardo Ruiz who attends Kujawa Elementary School also could not believe what they saw. On Dec. 17, Ricardo Ruiz’s parents thought they were going to see their son perform holiday carols at the campus. Instead, all three learned they had been selected as one of the families to receive a Christmas Giveaway from Gallery Furniture.

The Ricardo family also received support from Kujawa Elementary staff members who donated clothes, jackets, shoes, food, and a Walmart gift card.

Both Ricardo and Eva expressed their gratitude to Gallery Furniture and the staff at Kujawa Elementary while their son hugged the deliverymen from Gallery Furniture and the staff members from his campus.

Kim Corrick, assistant principal at Kujawa Elementary, also praised the folks at Gallery Furniture and McIngvale.

“As an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, this truly shows the world coming together as one to show that the school and the community are working together for the betterment of our students,” said Corrick. “One of the attributes of a Primary Years Program is that we advocate for others as well as ourselves.

“Mr. McIngvale of Gallery Furniture embodies the characteristics of a global citizen because he makes a difference in the world around him.”