Natalie Martinez has a soft spot for Fort Worth’s Northside neighborhood.
It’s where she and her siblings grew up and where she went to school, graduating from North Side High School in 1996.
The founder of Linking Hearts nonprofit, Martinez empathizes with students and families who are met with financial struggles — her family experienced similar difficulties when she was growing up.
In an interview with the Fort Worth Report, Martinez recalled one Christmas in her childhood years when she sought help from the community to no avail. That was partly due to not meeting certain deadlines or criteria to qualify for assistance, she said. Sometimes when money was tight, her mother looked to schools to help pay for school supplies or new clothes.
Those experiences made her determined to ensure that her nonprofit would be able to help for families in similar circumstances.
“One year I just said, “You know what? I don’t want a mom to feel like that ever again, like there’s no hope or, you know, there’s nobody that we could reach out into the community,” Martinez said.
Through Linking Hearts, Martinez equips children and families with everyday essentials and school supplies. In some situations, she has even bought items such as prom dresses and suits or athletic uniforms out of her own pocket.
Roxanne Martinez, Diamond Hill North Side Youth Association president, has worked closely with Natalie. Now friends for well over a decade, Roxanne considers Natalie’s work and dedication widely impactful.
“Linking Hearts is a smaller nonprofit. It doesn’t get grants or any type of funding. It’s run off of donations,” Roxanne said. “It’s just a very grassroots organization. It’s making a huge impact.”
Natalie’s work and dedication to serving Northside families earned her recognition in the Fort Worth Report’s weekly series, 52 Faces of Community, highlighting Tarrant County’s unsung heroes.
“The difference with me is, I’m not asking what your annual income is,” Natalie said. “If you need help this year, and I have the support and I have the funds or the means to do it, then we’re going to help you.”
Natalie Martinez is pictured alongside two children who received toys from a Linking Hearts Christmas toy drive. (Courtesy | Natalie Martinez)
Calls to serve
Since 2011, Linking Hearts has primarily worked with the staff, administration and students at North Side and Diamond Hill-Jarvis high schools. Natalie has also occasionally worked with schools in Fort Worth’s Riverside and Southside neighborhoods.
Counselors would reach out to Natalie if families of students needed assistance to purchase items such as backpacks and clothing. Roxanne said that sometimes Natalie hears about families in need via social media or word of mouth, rather than through official channels. The organization works year-round.
“If she learns of a family or a student that is in need of clothing, she works to fill that need,” Roxanne said. “I don’t know of any family she’s ever turned down.”
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For example, Natalie received a call from school staff last year, requesting assistance for a student to purchase cheerleading attire following the death of her parent.
Linking Hearts also hosts an annual back-to-school event, passing out backpacks to students at Northside Community Center. Besides the 375 backpacks distributed this year, free school uniforms and undergarments were also available, Natalie said.
“I just want people to know, maybe it’s a temporary season, a struggle, but to let them know, they’re seen, they’re loved and they’re not forgotten, no matter where we come from,” she said.
Another annual Linking Hearts event is its Christmas toy drive. Historically, Natalie’s toy drives were held at Waves of Faith church in River Oaks. Last year, toys were given to 275 children in the community but Linking Hearts can provide up to 300.
“If she learns of a family or a student that is in need of clothing, she works to fill that need.”
Roxanne Martinez, Diamond Hill North Side Youth Association president
But Natalie also makes a celebration out of the event with music, food and photo opportunities for both children and families to enjoy. Through these events, Natalie enjoys connecting and learning more about the members of the community.
“We have a very good time and meet people that we probably wouldn’t meet,” Natalie said.
Now in its third year of doing so, Linking Hearts passes out prom dresses and other party attire, including shoes and jewelry. Throughout the school year, Natalie builds a prom wardrobe and hosts a viewing for students when the season rolls around.
“It just continues to grow and grow and grow,” Natalie said. “So I’m pretty excited about that one as well.”
A goal for Linking Hearts and Natalie this year is to rally more support and funding for prom suits. In previous years, Natalie and Roxanne have worked together to individually fund dress attire for high school boys.
“We want them to feel good,” Natalie said. “I try to explain to them it’s not a charity case. … It’s just, ‘We have the services available for y’all, we want y’all to take advantage.’”
Natalie also contributes to the schools outside of her nonprofit. She’s now in her second year of serving as vice president of North Side High School Steers PTA.
She stepped up to serve because without leadership, North Side’s PTA would have otherwise been inactive.
When parents called her inquiring about her interest to participate in the PTA, Natalie responded with, “I definitely would do it.”
Natalie now lives in Saginaw but makes trips to the Northside neighborhood to help fill the gaps.
“I know where the needs are,” Natalie said. “If that’s where I need to be … that’s where I will go.”
Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org.
The Report’s environment coverage is supported by the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation.
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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