5 ways he made a difference in the community

Local icon and businessman Mattress Mack may be battling health issues, but his unwavering spirit and commitment to giving back are as strong as ever.

Although Jim McInvale, affectionately known as Mattress Mack, is hospitalized at St. Luke’s with cognitive issues, he has assured his followers that he is “going to be OK.”

BACKGROUND: “Nothing will happen to me”: Mattress Mack in hospital due to “cognitive” problems

As he recovers, Mattress Mack’s impact on the Houston community continues to be felt. Here are five ways Mattress Mack has made a difference for the community.

Mattress Mack surprises 9-year-old and family after losing $400 in Astros ticket scam

A 9-year-old Houston Astros superfan and his family get the chance of a lifetime after falling victim to a scam.

Daniel and Brenda Garza, the parents of 9-year-old Axel, wanted to surprise him last week with tickets to the first game of the ALCS against the Yankees.

“I just wanted to surprise him. He loves baseball, he’s been playing since he was three, and he’s become more and more interested in the game lately,” Daniel told KPRC 2 on Friday.

They found a pair of tickets for $400 on OfferUp and sent the money to the seller via Zelle, but never received the tickets or heard from the seller again.

After the story aired, Mattress Mack and his team reached out to KPRC 2 to offer a surprise of their own.

“A horrible story, such a wonderful family was scammed on the internet and I’m sure the little boy’s heart was broken,” Mattress Mack said. “He’s an Astros fan, I’m an Astros fan (and) we all cheer for the Astros.”

They invited the Garzas to Gallery Furniture, where they were presented with four tickets to Game 1 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

“I was very surprised and excited … to see the players up close and watch the pitchers warm up,” Axel said.

Daniel and Axel originally planned to go together to save money, but Mattress Mack and Caesars Palace gave the family of four first-class tickets to the game, turning an unfortunate situation into a positive one for everyone.

Mattress Mack surprises grandmother of five with free children’s furniture

Mattress Mack and Gallery Furniture have partnered with a nonprofit organization to surprise a local grandmother raising her grandchildren with free children’s furniture.

As a last resort, Trudy Cole took custody of her grandchildren to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Department of Family and Welfare.

Kid’s Meals Inc. has also helped the family serve meals after school and during the summer for six years, according to a news release. The nonprofit is working to help Cole move into a home big enough for the family.

Kid’s Meals Inc. has partnered with Mack to provide free beds to all children so they have a place to sleep.

Mattress Mack prepares to send 30 truckloads of relief supplies to the region devastated by Hurricane Ida

After Hurricane Ida devastated Louisiana, Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale announced a massive relief effort to help families affected by the devastating storm.

“Our sympathies go out to the people of Louisiana, especially the people of New Orleans, who are being hit by this terrible hurricane. So on Monday from eight to five in the afternoon, we’re going to have a huge drive at Gallery Furniture. We’re looking for people to bring nonperishable food, diapers, all the usual hurricane things. We’re going to put together about 30 trucks and bring them to Louisiana to help people. We’ll do that as long as there’s a need. And we’re also offering free overnight accommodations here to Louisiana residents who have been evacuated to Houston.”

Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale donates lift chair to Air Force veteran

Throughout his life, David Espinosa loved two things more than anything else: the United States of America and the Air Force. He served in both.

He served as a security specialist in the Air Force for 22 years, always fighting for our flag and ready to defend our country.

But in 2009, Espinosa’s left leg had to be amputated due to a severe diabetic infection.

Since then, he has slept every night in a special lift chair – a chair that is falling apart and stopped working about five years ago.

Since there is no other way out, this brave veteran named Spencer solves the problem.

And we immediately contacted Mattress Mack, Jim McIngvale, the owner of Gallery Furniture.

“First of all, we strongly believe in veterans and this particular veteran’s lift chair is broken, so we’re going to give him a brand new one.

“A new lift chair, it heats, it massages, it can do everything,” says McIngvale.

Now the guys from Gallery Furniture are delivering a beautiful, comfortable and state-of-the-art lift chair to Espinosa absolutely free of charge.

Gallery Furniture opens 2 locations as warming shelters

Gallery Furniture has opened two locations as warming shelters for residents still without power more than 24 hours after government-mandated blackouts.

People were able to stay warm and get hot food and water at the retailers’ stores 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 don’t have power. Come see us until the power comes back on.”