Roxanne Martinez, Diamond Hill North Side Youth Association president, has worked closely with Natalie. Now friends for well over a decade, Roxanne considers Natalie\u2019s work and dedication widely impactful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLinking Hearts is a smaller nonprofit. It doesn\u2019t get grants or any type of funding. It\u2019s run off of donations,\u201d Roxanne said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a very grassroots organization. It\u2019s making a huge impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
Natalie\u2019s work and dedication to serving Northside families earned her recognition in the Fort Worth Report\u2019s weekly series, 52 Faces of Community<\/a>, highlighting Tarrant County\u2019s unsung heroes.<\/p>\n \u201cThe difference with me is, I\u2019m not asking what your annual income is,\u201d Natalie said. \u201cIf you need help this year, and I have the support and I have the funds or the means to do it, then we\u2019re going to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s Riverside and Southside neighborhoods.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIf she learns of a family or a student that is in need of clothing, she works to fill that need,\u201d Roxanne said. \u201cI don\u2019t know of any family she\u2019s ever turned down.\u201d<\/p>\n Know an unsung hero in Tarrant County?<\/p>\n Tell us about them by filling out the form below. <\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI just want people to know, maybe it\u2019s a temporary season, a struggle, but to let them know, they\u2019re seen, they\u2019re loved and they\u2019re not forgotten, no matter where we come from,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Another annual Linking Hearts event is its Christmas toy drive. Historically, Natalie\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIf she learns of a family or a student that is in need of clothing, she works to fill that need.\u201d<\/p>\n Roxanne Martinez, Diamond Hill North Side Youth Association president<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a very good time and meet people that we probably wouldn\u2019t meet,\u201d Natalie said.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt just continues to grow and grow and grow,\u201d Natalie said. \u201cSo I\u2019m pretty excited about that one as well.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe want them to feel good,\u201d Natalie said. \u201cI try to explain to them it\u2019s not a charity case. \u2026 It’s just, \u2018We have the services available for y\u2019all, we want y\u2019all to take advantage.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Natalie also contributes to the schools outside of her nonprofit. She\u2019s now in her second year of serving as vice president of North Side High School Steers PTA.\u00a0<\/p>\n She stepped up to serve because without leadership, North Side\u2019s PTA would have otherwise been inactive.\u00a0<\/p>\n When parents called her inquiring about her interest to participate in the PTA, Natalie responded with, \u201cI definitely would do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Natalie now lives in Saginaw but makes trips to the Northside neighborhood to help fill the gaps.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI know where the needs are,\u201d Natalie said. \u201cIf that\u2019s where I need to be \u2026 that\u2019s where I will go.\u201d<\/p>\n Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Report\u2019s environment coverage is supported by the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_6720-1024x683.jpg\")
Natalie Martinez is pictured alongside two children who received toys from a Linking Hearts Christmas toy drive. (Courtesy | Natalie Martinez)
\nCalls to serve<\/p>\n