As Mattress Mack, the local icon and businessman, faces health issues, his enduring spirit and dedication to giving back remain as strong as ever.
Despite being hospitalized at St. Luke’s for cognitive concerns, Jim McInvale, known affectionately as Mattress Mack, has reassured his supporters that he’s “going to be alright.”
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BACKGROUND: ‘I’m going to be alright’: Mattress Mack in the hospital for ‘cognitive’ issues
In the midst of his recovery, Mattress Mack’s impact on the Houston community continues to resonate. Here’s a look at five ways Mattress Mack has made a difference for the community.
Mattress Mack surprises 9-year-old and family after Astros ticket scam cost them $400
A 9-year-old super fan of the Houston Astros and his family are getting the opportunity of a lifetime after falling victim to a scam.
Daniel and Brenda Garza, parents of 9-year-old Axel, wanted to surprise him with tickets to game one of the ALCS against the Yankees last week.
“I was just trying to surprise him and he loves baseball, he’s been playing since he was 3, and lately he’s been getting into the game,” Daniel told KPRC 2 on Friday.
They found a pair of tickets on OfferUp for $400 and sent the money to the seller via Zelle, but never received the tickets nor heard another word from the seller.
After the story aired, Mattress Mack and his team reached out to KPRC 2, wanting to offer their own surprise.
“Terrible story, a wonderful family like that getting scammed on the internet and I’m sure the little boy’s heart was crushed,” Mattress Mack said. “He’s an Astros fan, I’m an Astros fan [and] we’re all cheering for the Astros.”
They invited the Garza’s to Gallery Furniture, where they were presented with four tickets to game one of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
“Very surprised, I was excited … to see the players closer and see the pitchers warm up,” Axel said.
Initially, Daniel and Axel planned to go together and save money, but Mattress Mack and Caesars Palace gave the family of four first-level tickets to the game, turning an unfortunate situation into a positive outcome for them all.
Mattress Mack surprises grandmother of 5 with free kids’ furniture
Mattress Mack and Gallery Furniture have partnered with a nonprofit to surprise a local grandmother who is helping raise her grandchildren with free children’s furniture.
Trudy Cole stepped up to take care of her grandchildren as a last resort to keep them out of the Department of Family and Protective Services’ custody.
Kid’s Meals Inc. has also helped serve the family meals after school and during the summer for six years, according to a release. The nonprofit is making an effort to help Cole relocate to a home that is big enough for the family.
Kid’s Meals Inc. partnered with Mack to help provide free beds for all of the children so they can have a place to sleep.
Mattress Mack prepares to send 30 trucks loaded with relief supplies to region ravaged by Hurricane Ida
After Hurricane Ida hammered Louisiana, Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale announced a massive relief effort to help families impacted by the devastating storm.
“Our hearts go out for the residents of Louisiana, especially in New Orleans residents are getting hit by this terrible hurricane. So on Monday at Gallery Furniture from eight to five in the afternoon, we’re gonna have a giant drive. Looking for people to bring non-perishable foods, diapers, all the normal things for hurricanes and we’re gonna get about 30 trucks and take them to Louisiana to help the people out and be doing that as long as the need’s there. And we’re also having Louisiana residents that evacuated to Houston sleep here free.”
Jim ‘Mattress Mack’ McIngvale donates lift chair to Air Force veteran
All his life, David Espinosa has loved two things above everything else: the United States of America and the Air Force. He has served both.
For 22 years, he worked as a security specialist in the Air Force, always fighting for our flag and ready to defend our country.
But in 2009, Espinosa had to have his left leg amputated due to a severe diabetic infection.
Ever since then, he has been sleeping every night in a special lift chair -- a chair that is falling apart and stopped working about five years ago.
So with nowhere else to turn, this brave veteran called Spencer Solves It.
And right away, we contacted Mattress Mack, Jim McIngvale, the owner of Gallery Furniture.
“First of all, we are huge believers in veterans and this particular veteran, his lift chair is bombed-out. And so we are going to give him a brand new one.
A new lift chair, it heats, it massages, it does everything,” McIngvale says.
Now the guys at Gallery Furniture are delivering a beautiful and comfortable, state-of-the-art lift chair to Espinosa absolutely free.
Gallery Furniture opens 2 locations as warming shelters
Gallery Furniture opened two locations as warming shelters for residents who are still without power more than 24 hours after state-mandated blackouts.
People were able to stay warm, get hot food and water at retailer’s locations at 6006 North Freeway in Houston and 7227 W. Grand Parkway South in Richmond.
“We’re here to help the community,” said Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, owner of Gallery Furniture. “A lot of people are without power. Come see us until the power gets back on.”