Local community gives back to veteran in need

A disabled Central Texas veteran struggling to do the little things in life like mowing the lawn receives generous gift from the community, Saturday morning.

Michael Holly served in the U.S. Military for 12 years. While serving he injured his foot and now suffers from a chronic pain in his foot which keeps him from doing the little things like mowing the lawn.

"I want to mow the lawn and be able to be independent and not have to rely on anybody else to do things that I should be able to do myself,” Holly said.

Adam Cook has been Holly’s best friend through many hardships in his life.

“Mike has been through a lot I've sit and watched him be so depressed that he couldn't even get up and move around all over mowing the lawn,” Cook said.

“It’s the little things like that we may take for granted and be nothing to us but to our veterans it means something.”

Diana Fincher work with the North Fort Hood Ministry and is a daughter of a World War ll veteran and when she heard Holly's story she immediately jumped into action, collecting donations though Facebook.

With the help of the Gatesville community, the Temple Home Depot and the North Food Ministry they were able to give Holly a brand new tractor with warranty, gardening supplies and a $400 Home Depot gift card.

“From my heart I wanted him to understand how much his service is appreciated,” Fincher said.

“We have to realize that it's our veterans and our military who give us the lives we have, the businesses, the opportunities, and the enjoyment in a nation that is the greatest on earth because of them.”

Holly had lost hope in humanity after an incident on social media.

“Well I had a guy when I asked on the on the Facebook marketplace reaming me out, he called me a loser and told me to go get a job,” Holly said.

However, his faith was restored after seeing the outpour of support.

“It's really amazing when it happens, you don't think that it does happen but obviously it does happen," Holly said.

“It's a really great feeling knowing that he can do this and be more independent and take care of the things he needs to take care of and not feel so down and out,” Cook said.

A simple reminder that grass may be greener on the other side.