Financial instability is stressful, but it is something that each of us will face in some capacity and hopefully overcome. However, instability combined with a forever altered lifestyle due to a medical crisis is not. In September, GRACE care managers met with a client who was diagnosed with a blood clot in the brain which caused him to become blind. Blindness is a common symptom of a blood clot in the brain, and recovery is possible, but on a timeline of months, not weeks. After this life-changing diagnosis, the client almost immediately faced more distress. His marriage, unfortunately, deteriorated and he was left alone with limited resources and he became significantly dependent on others, including his best friend and his best friend’s wife. They helped him as much as possible but ultimately they reached out to GRACE on his behalf for our help. An application for Social Security Disability had been filed, but due to the lengthy process time,

All good things must come to an end and make way for something better! At the beginning of this year we started work with Voly- a comprehensive volunteer management platform- to create a unique website dedicated to our volunteers. Our goal was to streamline the volunteer process and create a one-stop-shop for volunteers to submit applications, sign up for volunteer opportunities, and track hours. With those in mind, we started work on the website and are excited to say our website is complete! We officially launched the website September 16th, and have seen a steady influx in volunteer sign-ups since then. It is so exciting to see familiar and new names roll into the site- We’re still in the early stages, but we can’t wait to see where this will take us! For those of you who are new to the website, below are the steps you will need to

FY24 Sets Service Provision Record. Again. Our GRACE family celebrated the end of our fiscal year on September 10, with a catered dinner, games, prizes, and good fellowship. The GRACE Fiscal Year runs September 1 through August 31, and each year we hold a “New Year’s Party” remembering the year just past, and the new one before us. There was a feeling of true joy in the air for a tremendous FY. We welcomed our new CEO, Rebecca Cox, at the beginning of Q2—December 4th to be exact—the day of the Christmas Cottage Open House. Rebecca was only the third chief executive in the 38-year history of GRACE, attesting to the long-term stability of our organization. Just a month earlier, we had completed our best GRACE Gala ever! With record net revenues, and net as a percentage of gross (an efficiency rating for special events) of an exceptional 73%, the

GRACE welcomes Jina Walker, M. Ed., as the new Chief Program Officer, directing the many programs and services of the Grapevine-based social service agency. Her predecessor, Stacy Pacholick, retired after an impactful 13 years at GRACE in August. Ms. Walker brings over 25 years of experience in social service program management and development, including the last 12 years in leadership positions at non-profit organizations in the greater Fort Worth area. She was instrumental in creating, developing, and implementing a variety of housing programs at Presbyterian Night Shelter (PNS), and managed the Safe Haven Program at PNS for several years. Most recently, Ms. Walker managed the daily operation and supervision of the housing services at Tarrant County Samaritan House supporting more than 425 households in their journey to self-sufficiency. A mental health professional with an advanced degree in education, guidance, and counseling, as well as her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and

To each of you who chose GRACE during North Texas Giving Day this year, we can’t say thank you enough! We not only met our goal, we exceeded it! As we partner together, even amid times of great change, your generosity guarantees that programs like the GRACE Food Pantry, GRACE Community Clinic, and Emergency Assistance for rent/mortgage and utilities remain accessible to those who need them the most. Because of you, GRACE continues to be a source of hope for those who have seen their financial foundations shaken by sudden emergencies or an ongoing difficulty. GRACE strives to demonstrate compassion towards these individuals and families and provide a tailored path out of crisis and into self-sufficiency. We ask that you continue to stay engaged with GRACE by keeping us in your thoughts and prayers and by following the links below: For information about volunteering with GRACE, click here! To learn more

With the 21st annual GRACE Gala approaching, we are excited to highlight our incredible Diamond, Titanium and Double Sapphire sponsors. The GRACE Gala in and of itself would just be another fantastic party, but it is the purpose that sets it apart. Corporate partners, local businesses, congregations, families, and individuals utilize their talents and give of their resources to generate event proceeds that sustain GRACE programs throughout the year. The many who give of their energy, expertise, and earnings to generate operational funds is truly remarkable, and we’d like the community to know how amazing they are! We wholeheartedly encourage patronage to local businesses that share the same desire to see families thrive in our community. On behalf of over 10,000 individuals GRACE served last year, thank you for providing support that allows us provide food, clothing, shelter, education, medical care and hope to the downtrodden among us.   The

Sometimes some of the most difficult situations that come to GRACE come from families who have done everything right. They have saved, they’ve planned, they’ve taken the financial health courses, opted for insurance coverage, and still… they don’t have enough. In August, a client came to GRACE seeking assistance with September’s rent and utilities. He was the sole provider for his family, but due to a recent cancer diagnosis, he had been forced to quit his job to prioritize his health. His wife has the desire and capability to replace him as the sole provider but was hesitant due to his treatment regime requiring him to be under constant observation to see how he would respond to his treatment. This treatment option, though a blessing, is also the cause of their financial strain. His treatment would cost the family $5,000; therefore, they approached GRACE to see how we could assist

The highly anticipated GRACE Gala is slated for Saturday, November 2nd and is coming back to Grapevine! This year’s event will be at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center. Volunteers and GRACE Staff have been hard at work along with our amazing Gala Chairs, Theresa and Justin Mason of Magnolia Realty, Gala Auction Chair, Cass Clements and the spectacular Auction Committee! This event, emceed by NBC5’s own Laura Harris promises an evening filled with purpose and passion as we come together for a remarkable cause. The theme for this year’s gala, “The Stories of GRACE,” will be a celebration of stories and the profound impact of our collective efforts to help our community. Each story shared will serve as a testament to the transformative power of community support. Truly, this gala is more than just an event; it is a celebration of hope and resilience! The excitement for the upcoming

In conjunction with Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District, Grapevine Women’s Division, the local community, and other non-profit organizations and businesses, GRACE collaborates together to ensure a successful school year for parents and their children. The annual GCISD Back-to-School Fair is a collective effort that displays community engagement and provides a broad spectrum of resources to help foster family connections and local ties that play a vital role in students’ academic path. Gearing up for a new academic year can present some financial challenges for many families. As we enter the 2024-2025 school year, GRACE celebrates the concerted efforts of another successful event together! All children registered for the fair received school supplies from the Grapevine Women’s Division and GRACE supported the effort by providing back to school clothing to help each child start the year fully prepared! These services not only help families save monetarily but also ensure that students begin

What an accomplishment we celebrated this summer! GRACE’s Feed Our Kids summer lunch program just completed its 20th year of serving our community! Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers that made this happen. Whether you’re affiliated with a civic or philanthropic organization, a local business, a church, or even just you and your family or friend group…YOU helped served 36,104 lunches over an 11 week period across six different sites in Grapevine! AMAZING! The excitement on the faces of our local children and their families when they arrived for the lunch hour is something special to witness. Our volunteers thought of everything! From face painting; balloon animals; setting up tables of books for all ages to take home; and even a wonderful week of Litter Awareness that ended with surprise giveaways and a “Pledge to do your part and put trash where it belong.” These special touches make such