Gallery Furniture surprises 30 families with new furniture

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Onesta Calhoun says she didn't believe it when Gallery Furniture called to say she'd been picked to get a house full of new furniture.

"They told me to come here today and pick it up, and I'm here. I'm overjoyed. I'm grateful," Calhoun said.

She's raising her four granddaughters all by herself.

"It was OK until I had an accident and messed my leg up. So it's been kind of downhill," she said.

But this surprise is a big pick-me-up for her and 29 other families across the Houston area. Some lost everything in fires. Some are scraping by and simply didn't have the cash to buy furniture they desperately need.

"If you listen to the stories, it'll get straight to your heart." said Cedric Franklin with Gallery Furniture.

Franklin says reading the nominations letters and meeting the families makes him grateful for his own situation. He tells us he's glad to be able to do his part, and glad to work for Mattress Mack, a man who is all about helping families who need it most.

"Every time you look around, it's give, give, give. And he looks forward to the Christmas giveaway. We look forward to the giveaway just to see the smiles on their faces," Franklin said.

Leaving with her new furniture, Calhoun said she knew her girls would be all smiles. But they'll have to wait to open their Christmas gift until Christmas Eve.

"We're just gonna leave it in the box. They're not gonna have no other choice. Granny say don't unwrap it, we're not gonna unwrap it until then," Calhoun said.