Misti Hargrove: Living life to help others

Misti Hargrove watched the December tornados severely damage her city and the lives of the people in it.

She lives in Rowlett and although her home specifically was not affected, many of her friends and neighbors homes were. She decided that she needed to volunteer her strengths to help people in her community get where they needed to be. After the tornados hit, Hargrove worked with many different churches and nonprofits assisting in ways she could.

Hargrove works more than 40 hours a week and still finds the time and effort to volunteer, something she says is a priority for her and a goal for the community.

"We all have our purpose in life, and we need to figure out what it is and use it," Hargrove said. "I have the ability of time so I use that."

An example of one of the many good deeds Hargrove did following the tornados is with Tree of Life Lutheran Church. They received a grant that needed to be spent by giving a certain amount to individual families. She then found 30 families in need of money and connected them with Tree of Life Lutheran Church so they were able to receive portions of the grant, Hargrove said.

"I'm a huge networker," Hargrove said. "When I meet a family, I connect them to the correct resource."

Rockwall Exchange was another organization where Hargrove volunteered her time. According to the organizations Facebook page and website, it was simply a page on Facebook for people in the Rockwall area to buy items. When the tornados hit, the page started collecting donations for those in need from the storm. In addition to her work with Rockwall Exchange, Hargrove also volunteered with Heart Homes, a nonprofit that provides travel trailers for people who have lost their homes or need a place to stay, she said.

Hargrove believes people should help in whatever way they can, whether it is time, money, or resources. Hargrove also regularly volunteers teaching kids in an afterschool program.

"I highly encourage everybody to start volunteering and helping other people," Hargrove said. "To live life is to help others."