‘We were praying for it’: Love Thy City gives away free air conditioner to Tyler family

Published 3:45 pm Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Janira Martinez, 23, mom of three, prayed to God after her air conditioner broke over the weekend. She and her husband and three kids needed it due to the intense summer heat. Her prayers were answered when Love Thy City told her on Monday they would give her a new one.

The Tyler organization focused on loving Tyler, God and helping people gave away the free air conditioner to the Martinez family during a press conference Tuesday at Express Employment Professionals.

Martinez feels grateful for their generosity and to God.

“We should always be grateful for God,” Martinez said. “We were praying for it because we needed it. Thanks to Him, He responded to us.”

As part of Love Thy City’s mission to give back, they plan to continue giving away AC units to those in need during a community event from 1 to 6 p.m. July 20 at W.T. Brookshire Conference Center in Tyler.

The press conference also served as a time for the organization to announce the event’s keynote speaker and free concert.

The keynote speaker will be Pastor Jonathan Evans from Oak Cliff Christian Fellowship Church in Dallas. In addition, the event will feature a free concert with Jonathan Traylor at 3 p.m.

The idea of Love Thy City came from God, said DeMarcus Pierson, Love Thy City Founder and President, who is also lead pastor at Reveal Church Tyler. From there, Pierson got to work in making the idea a reality. Through Love Thy City, the organization brings together local churches, pastors, social nonprofit organizations and local ministries.

“One of the things that is so wonderful about our community is that when it comes time for us to unite, Tyler does a great job at that,” Pierson said. “And what we’re doing is we’re embracing that through racial cultures and different ethnicities that will be there. All of these wonderful demographics that are in our city are coming together so that we can be a blessing.”

Martinez believes Love Thy City’s mission is important.

“It’s a good idea because there are many people in need,” Martinez said.

She plans to attend the organization’s July 20 event to get free school supplies for her daughter.

The event will include Christmas in July, a prayer room, over 50 nonprofit organizations, over 3,000 backpacks filled with school supplies, free vaccinations, free mental health counseling, live music and food trucks. They will have central AC units and fan giveaways through Beat the Heat. There will be food vouchers to ensure people are fed.

“That’s going to be wonderful because a lot of people are going to be there the entire day,” Pierson said. “And we don’t want them to be hungry. We’re going to make sure that they are fed and we’re going to make sure that they have an opportunity to enjoy the entire day.”

Licensed professional counselors will provide the free counseling at the Tyler Rose Garden Center, located right next to the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center where they event will be held. This is an opportunity for people to take advantage of free services and get Christian counseling, Pierson said.

Love Thy City will have over 50 churches who have joined to share the gospel, Pierson said. They hope to have 100 pastors and churches because they will be sharing the gospel twice an hour, said Love Thy City communications director Angela Hill Goudy.

“Love Thy City is about giving, it’s showing love,” Pierson said. “No one is paying for anything. We don’t want a dollar. We’re going to be giving because this is how we show the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And I’m happy to lead this wonderful organization into what will be history on July 20.”

Love Thy City’s values are honoring Jesus, loving your families and helping those in need. This is why they exemplify the values of the Brookshire family, said Tim Brookshire, Love Thy City chairman and Brookshire Grocery Company board member.

They currently have over 450 volunteers who “signed up to show love, to greet and wrap their arms around children,” Pierson said. Pierson is hopeful for the future and mission of Love Thy City.

“Our end result is we want our citizens to feel the love and be connected to our community,” Pierson said. “We want Tyler to be the template of what can happen in the nation. I see something great on the horizon. And it’s going to start right here in the Rose Capital of America.”

In the future, they hope Love Thy City spreads throughout the nation. Currently, one East Texas city has reached out to them about bringing Love Thy City to their city.

“It is my prayer that this will spread throughout the nation,” Pierson said. “In a day and time that we’re in, where there’s so much political divide, there’s so much racial tension, there’s so many things that divide us, Love Thy City is an organization that brings us together.”

For anyone interested in attending Love Thy City on July 20, it is recommended you RSVP on their website, https://lovethycity.org/attend.