Heart of Variety Grant Impact Story: Bath Time Shouldn’t Feel Impossible

Before receiving a Heart of Variety grant for the bathroom renovation, Ellie’s family braced for bath time.

Eliora (Ellie) Cantu. The Heart of Variety grant funded an accessible bathroom renovation for her — wider doorway, bath chair space, and a safer shower setup.

The bathroom doorway was too narrow. There wasn't enough room for her bath chair. Every routine task required lifting, maneuvering, and constant attention to safety. What should have been an ordinary part of the day carried stress and exhaustion with it.

But today, things look different.

Now, Ellie can roll comfortably into a shower space built for her needs. She reaches for toys in the water. She relaxes. Her family does, too.

With support from Heart of Variety — and donors like you — Ellie's family was able to create a safer, more accessible bathroom with a widened doorway, room for mobility equipment, and a calm environment designed around her daily life.

For her mom, Daisy, the transformation still feels emotional.

“Every time I walk into the restroom now, I stop and admire what was made possible.”

Your support gives Texas families relief. It turns stressful routines into moments of connection.

After a five-year pause, Heart of Variety is back in Texas. During our first two rounds of funding, Variety Texas provided $30,000 in grants to 34 families with disabilities across Texas, impacting 142 individuals in Bexar, Brazos, Cameron, Carson, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Harris, Hidalgo, Montgomery, Tarrant, Travis, Williamson and Bell counties.

Because of donor support:

• 19 families received help with urgent daily living and safety needs

• 8 children gained access to therapy services

• 5 families received educational and learning resources

• 2 families obtained mobility equipment that improved independence and safety

This year alone, families shared more than $950,000 in unmet needs with Variety Texas. Many are facing overlapping challenges — emergency medical situations, unsafe living conditions, food insecurity, and housing instability — while caring for children with disabilities or complex medical needs.

1,431 Texan families are still waiting for help.

That’s why every gift matters.

Your gift creates moments of relief and connection. Donations support Texans with disabilities with therapy sessions, adaptive equipment, wheelchair ramps and more. Parents spend less time worrying about safety. Children gain comfort and independence. Families regain energy for the moments that matter most.

That change starts with people like you.

Will you help Heart of Variety reach the families who are still waiting?

Donate Today

Whether this is your first gift or your fiftieth, you are helping create homes — and routines — where children can thrive.  From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.