On a chilly November morning, the sound of hammers, saws, and dozens of volunteers in bright orange shirts filled an otherwise quiet neighborhood on the edge of Atlanta, located in northeastern Texas in Cass County. Cliff and Amy Gunstanson stood in their yard, watching as more than 70 Home Depot employees and a team of local contractors poured into the house they’ve never been able to call home.
“It feels like winning the lottery,” Cliff said. “At one point I thought we’d never get this house fixed. Now people are showing up from everywhere telling me, ‘Step back — we’ve got this.’”
For the Gunstanson’s, the dream of homeownership had become a nightmare. The couple bought the house last year through a for-sale-by-owner deal, only to discover severe termite damage, standing water under the floors, broken pipes, and structural issues hidden beneath layers of old repairs. Cliff fell through the flooring multiple times while attempting renovations, suffering a sternum injury and long setbacks.
“It was just one thing after another,” Amy said. “Every time we opened up a wall or floor, the problems got worse.”
A Partnership That Changed Everything
The turning point came from a chance lunch-table conversation. Amy met DeAnna O’Malley, Area Director for Field Operations on the Community Sustainability Team at Communities Unlimited (CU), during a local Lions Club meeting. When Amy joked about buying a “money pit,” O’Malley listened — and kept listening.
“She was such a kind lady,” O’Malley said. “When I finally saw pictures of the damage, my heart just broke. I kept trying every resource I could find, but there was always a box they couldn’t check. I was preparing myself for defeat.”
Months passed — until a call came from Home Depot.
O’Malley had connected with Daniel Guerrero, store manager at the Texarkana Home Depot. Guerrero brought the story to the Home Depot Foundation, which approved a $16,730 grant to supply renovation materials. From there, things snowballed in the best way.
“Giving back is what we do,” Guerrero said. “When we heard Amy was a Navy veteran living with this kind of damage, it hit home. We wanted to bring our whole district together to support her.”
On Veterans Day, volunteers from eight regional stores — spanning from Shreveport, Louisiana to Tyler to Lufkin — joined forces with contractors from the Texarkana area: TXK Make Ready, Restoration of Hope, Tony Langford Roofing, and the Texarkana Contractors Alliance.
Their goal: rebuild the home from the inside out.
Rebuilding From the Ground Up
What they found confirmed the Gunstansons’ fears.
“No floors. No leveling. No working electrical, gas, or sewer lines,” O’Malley said. “Every time someone peeled back a layer, the problems multiplied. It was like an onion.”
Contractors are in the process of reconstructing everything — siding, floors, sheetrock, insulation, cabinets, countertops, and more.
Local contractor Jason Butler, a member of the Texarkana Contractors Alliance, said he didn’t hesitate when O’Malley asked him to look at the home.
“We love giving back,” Butler said. “Especially to our veterans. This area has a big heart — when people hear there’s a need, they step up.”
The Power of Rural Partnerships
Cass County Judge Travis Ransom — also a veteran — said the project captures the spirit of rural East Texas.
“This seemed overwhelming six months ago,” Ransom said. “And now? We’ve got an army of volunteers, all the materials on site, and a plan in motion. This is what rural America looks like.”
Ransom noted the county’s deep veteran population — nearly 10% of residents — and said the project reflects the community’s commitment to those who served.
“It shows the care we have for our veterans and their families,” he said. “This makes a huge impact.”
The project also highlights how public–private partnerships and philanthropy can thrive in rural communities. CU’s work in East Texas — including in Atlanta — is supported by the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, which helps the Community Sustainability Team build relationships, identify local needs, and bring partners together.
A New Start by Christmas
The goal is to have the home move-in ready by mid-December, giving the Gunstanson’s their first holiday in the house they’ve worked so long to enter.
The relationships formed along the way — with O’Malley, Guerrero, Butler, and others — have reshaped the couple’s outlook.
“These people are our friends now,” Amy said. “They can call me in the middle of the night. I’d do anything in the world for them. Not because of this, but just because that’s the relationship we have now.”
"Amy once called me in tears, and of course I cried with her. She told me, ‘You’ve saved my husband’s life.’ Hearing that, I finally understood the weight of what this project meant. This whole team truly gave Cliff — and Amy — a lifeline. I’m just so grateful we had the opportunity to help.”
— DeAnna O’Malley, Communities Unlimited
For Cliff, watching the transformation unfold has been emotional.
“It’s a blessing,” he said quietly. “God did this. And I pray He moves in the lives of every person who came out here.”
As volunteers worked into the afternoon, Amy stood by the doorway of the home she has yet to live in and wiped away tears.
“I just can’t wait to finally see it finished. It's going to be incredible. We're holding back tears even talking about it. We want them to know that we care about them as much as they have invested in us.”
— Amy Gunstanson
