HOUSTON — Maria Sendejo’s East End home has been in her family since her father purchased it 93 years ago.
“My father got sick and I took care of him,” Maria Sendejo told KHOU 11 News.
Sendejo took care of her father for several years and then inherited the home after his passing. After a lifetime of helping others, and providing shelter for those who needed it, she needed a little help repairing the home that means so much to her.
Thankfully, Rebuilding Together Houston answered the call.
“I was surprised and I was shocked. It means a lot because it’s a lot of love and that’s what counts,” Sendejo said.
Rebuilding Together Houston rebuilds around 200 homes in the community every year.
“We specialize in hazardous home repair,” the Director of community engagement for the organization, Anjeanette Gunter, said.
The organization does thousands of dollars worth of repair work at absolutely no cost to homeowners like Sendejo.
“We had some contractors just come out and work on the electrical issues, plumbing issues. They repaired some flooring,” Gunter explained.
They also put a new roof on the home and called their partner, Reliant Energy, to bring a group of volunteers to revitalize the home’s curb appeal.
And to Sendejo's surprise, Toro, a few Houston Texans players and even cheerleaders showed up to help as well.
“I think we’re a community of one you know. Texans doesn’t just mean our organization, It means everybody in this Houston area,” Henry To’oTo’o of the Texans said.
And they weren’t alone. About 20 members of Sendejo’s own family showed up to put in work for the matriarch who meant so much to them.
“We’ll be smiling and happy for days and years to come after this because of that smile. I saw that beautiful smile on my aunt, that just melted, our hearts,” Maria Martinez said.
That smile isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.