Lockhart family helped by Central Texas community

LOCKHART, Texas - A year ago we told you about a Lockhart family living in unsafe conditions, with their home on the verge of being condemned.

Neighbors reached out to FOX 7 in an effort to save the home. With overwhelming support from the Central Texas community, it's almost completely renovated.

In about three weeks the Torres family will be receiving their certificate of occupancy. For them, it's the best early Christmas gift they could ever receive. 

"I love the house, it's beautiful," says Andrew Torres, resident.

This holiday season, the Torres family is counting their blessings. Their home was once covered in mold, had weather damage and the roof was caving in. A year later, it's almost brand new.

Last November, neighbors had reached out to FOX 7 telling us a brother and two sisters in their 50's were found living in unsafe conditions after their parents had died. Each of them suffer from different health conditions and they were too scared to ask for help. Joel Gammage was one person the Torres family began to trust. 

"I was just hoping you would fix the roof, you went all out," says Torres.
 
"We had no idea we were going to get this far either," says Joel Gammage, neighbor helping Torres family. 

The Central Texas community showed what could be accomplished through unity. Almost 100 people have helped make this renovation possible throughout the year: from Adam & Sons A/C & Heating to Home Depot donating all the sheet-rock. The family continues to be surprised by the outpouring of support. A car was even donated on Tuesday by Reyes Towing. Besides renovations, the property was correctly deeded into their names and has been homesteaded in order to prevent the chance of them ever losing it. 

"I can only do so much by myself but, if we come together and we work together, we can find that each one of us has a valuable contribution that can be made when we all work together," says Gammage. 

The next step is helping the family generate enough income to help with their property taxes. 

"Thank you so much to FOX 7, you have been tremendous at getting the word out to help this family," says Gammage. 

"I believe this family was really, really blessed for this miracle," says Torres.