Fort Worth, TX – Natalie Martinez, a 1996 graduate of North Side High School, founded the grassroots nonprofit Linking Hearts to help families in the Northside community who face financial hardship. Drawing on her own childhood experiences of limited assistance, Martinez says the organization exists so that no parent or student feels forgotten.
Grassroots aid for everyday needs
Linking Hearts operates entirely on donations and personal contributions. The group supplies everyday essentials such as backpacks, school supplies, clothing, and even prom dresses and suits. Martinez often pays for items out of her own pocket when necessary. “If you need help this year and I have the means, we’ll help you,” she explains.
Annual back‑to‑school and holiday events
Each fall the nonprofit hosts a back‑to‑school event at the Northside Community Center, distributing 375 backpacks along with free uniforms and undergarments. During the holiday season, a Christmas toy drive held at Waves of Faith church in River Oaks provides toys to roughly 275 children, with capacity for up to 300.
Prom support expands each year
Now in its third year, Linking Hearts offers prom attire for both girls and boys. Martinez builds a prom wardrobe throughout the school year and invites students to view the selections. In recent years the organization has funded dresses for girls and suits for boys, aiming to raise additional support for prom suits.
Community partnerships and referrals
School counselors, teachers and administrators at North Side and Diamond Hill‑Jarvis high schools regularly refer families to Linking Hearts. Roxanne Martinez, president of the Diamond Hill North Side Youth Association, notes that the nonprofit often learns of needs through social media or word of mouth. “I don’t know of any family she’s ever turned down,” Roxanne says.
Volunteer leadership and personal commitment
Beyond the nonprofit, Natalie serves as vice president of the North Side High School Steers PTA, stepping in to keep the organization active. Although she now lives in Saginaw, she travels back to Northside to meet families where the need is greatest.
Impact and recognition
Linking Hearts was featured in the Fort Worth Report’s weekly series “52 Faces of Community,” highlighting unsung heroes throughout Tarrant County. The nonprofit’s work has been praised for its personal, no‑questions‑asked approach to assistance.
Martinez’s mission reflects a broader commitment to family stability and community care, values that resonate deeply in Fort Worth’s Northside neighborhood.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
