Elsa Municipal Judge Hilda Caceres is spearheading the drive to help a military family who lost a loved one overseas.
Airman First Class "Rudy" Garza died Saturday while swimming with friends during free time.
The 21-year-old mechanical engineer was stationed in Japan with the Air Force at the time of his death.
The news left his family in Elsa devastated and worried about how to come up with the $8,000 needed for funeral and burial expenses.
Judge Caceres turned to Action 4 News on Thursday evening to get the family help.
She called the report that aired the “help” they needed.
"We didn't have anyone coming forward and now it's like we're getting calls left and right," said Caceres.
The judge said complete strangers to Rudy Garza and his family have come forward to donate money.
People like former Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia along with management at First National Bank and Elsa State Bank locations in the city.
Other agencies, she said, like the Veteran's Alliance and the Mexican Consulate have stepped up to offer support too.
"Action 4 News made a big, big difference... If it hadn't been for Action 4 News this would not have happened... I am sure of it."
Questions were raised about whether Zavala Funeral Home in Edcouch would allow services to be held if the family could not make full payment on time.
But Marco Zavala, who’s the funeral home’s director, put those fears to rest.
“We have never said if you don't pay... we can't go on ... that's never been the case," said Zavala.
Zavala said it was the Air Force who required proof of payment to get reimbursed by the military up to $6,000 for funeral-related expenses.
Zavala said his funeral home will do what’s necessary to make sure proper services go on despite any difficulties with payment.
He added how his son Marco grew up with "Rudy" and were classmates at Edcouch-Elsa High School.
The news meant the world to Rudy’s younger sister Amber Garza.
“It really means a lot to our family," she said.
They community support translates into small signs of hope for a family still trying to heal their broken hearts.
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