June 22, 2023
Born in Lubbock, TX, Hector C. is a proud descendant of the Cherokee Nation and a veteran of the Vietnam War who served as a helicopter technician and was stationed in Guam. Hector was discharged in 1975 and came back to Lubbock to attend college. A job offer with the state brought him to Austin from Texas Tech, where he was attending. Hector laughs about the 70’s Austin he remembers then, “It was long, and now it’s gone.” Unfortunately, Hector was injured on the job in the early 90s and found himself on disability. He bought the home he lives in now in 1992, using savings and money he received from his disability. “I finally got it paid off.” But Hector knew the place needed a lot of repairs from the start. Repair that went beyond his budget. Thanks to a good friend that referred him to Meals on Wheels meal delivery, Hector has been receiving meals for nearly a decade. Through MOWCTX, he discovered the Home Repair program and quickly applied. At the time repairs started Hector was living with windows made from plastic during the cold of winter. “I was freezing,” he recalled. Because of The Home Depot Foundation's generous funding, contractors could install new windows throughout, update his plumbing, paint the exterior, and install guard rails and ADA features in the bathroom. “I’m really happy Meals on Wheels helped me. I appreciate everything they’ve done.”