June is designated to acknowledge a closed-curtain issue: hunger. Here are some quick facts to help your family build awareness of the needs, along with tangible ways to address hunger in your community. A family who lacks consistent access to enough food for all household members or cut back on groceries to pay rent, utilities, medicine, etc. is at risk for food insecurity. THE NEED Texas has the second highest number of family members at risk for hunger, and Tarrant County ranks as high as 18.1%, compared to the 15.8% national average. There are some local challenges to consider. Nearly one fourth of GCISD’s student base is enrolled in free or reduced lunches. Many children from these families live in what is referred to as a “food desert,” defined as not having convenient access to grocery stores for fresh product versus convenient stores. Other barriers to consider are transportation, education,

When Dallas Police Officer Brian Nolff worked security for a private event, he never would have guessed the impact it would make in the lives of children two years later. It began with a holiday affair, whose host asked attendees to bring a Christmas gift for children in need as entry to the private party. Unfortunately, unforeseen circumstances caused the donation to a national charity to fall through. By complete happenstance, the toys were entrusted to Officer Nolff to find good homes in the Dallas area, a project he executed without hesitation. The experience made such an impression on him that he wanted to do more. “When we gave toys to underprivileged children in our area, it was apparent that some children were getting a new gift for the first time,” said Officer Nolff. “I also wanted to give [families] something that was useful throughout the year.” During what officers

Every day, our community is made up of families who face seemingly insurmountable hurdles to make rent, utilities, hospital bills, or other expenses. Single mothers lie awake at night reeling from the day, wondering how they are going to meet the demands of the next week. Fathers are afraid to share that they’ve been laid off, or that a costly car repair has drained the savings he and his wife worked so hard to accrue. But when the community rallies together, families find solutions and the comfort they are not alone. One recent example of this is the outpouring of response from our Gala Gifting Party, an event that invites families and local businesses to share their blessings and raise funds for GRACE programs. The items donated will be entered in the GRACE Gala Silent Auction, which generates a considerable portion of the GRACE Gala event proceeds. Not only are

We are tremendously grateful to the local businesses, civic groups, and church congregations who show up faithfully on the hot summer afternoons to provide food and fellowship to at-risk children. If you’re not able to have a physical presence at Feed Our Kids sites, there are still options to adopt meals on behalf of the children or provide supplemental snacks and beverages. Feed Our Kids will continue every weekday this summer, and supplies are always appreciated. Individuals can contribute by donating juice boxes, bags of snacks or other kid-friendly foods to the GRACE Food Pantry (just be sure to mention the donations are for Feed Our Kids). For as little as $2 per child, businesses can commit to adopting a day or workweek as meal hosts. Groups also have the option of sponsoring the meals for other groups to host. Depending on the site and type of meal, the average

As we advance our mission to extend compassion to struggling families, we respectfully ask for your continued support. GRACE pledges to be an earnest steward of your treasured time, tithe and talents, directing them to those who need it most. Fiscal Year Services Provided relief to 4,961 family members facing crisis Collaborated with 23 displaced families with comprehensive casework, financial coaching, food and housing for up to two years Facilitated 5,427 visits to the Food Pantry and provided 752 holiday food baskets to families in need Clothed 3,695 family members who were displaced or in crisis On site to collaborate with 20 families who lost their homes in an apartment fire to ensure families received emergency relief Facilitated 61,697 volunteer hours Accepted 2,621 donations to the Food Pantry Accepted 4,040 patient visits to the Community Clinic Accommodated 100 immobile seniors with essential commodities Gave groceries to 3,195 family members Provided

Sometimes the hardships of our community as a whole can feel too overwhelming to remedy, and often we are asked how families can make a tangible difference together. Fortunately, there are many ways families can work together to lend a hand up to other families facing hardship in a way that blesses the giver and receiver. Here are three opportunities to involve your family that will make an impact before we reach the end of next weekend: Cultivate growth at the Community Gardens The GRACE Community Garden is hosting a Garden Service Day next Saturday, June 24, from 8:00 a.m. until lunchtime. The morning will be spent planting tomatillos, pruning tomatoes, and planting melons and cucumbers. Garden Service Days are crucial to the success of the initiative to provide wholesome, organic produce to families facing hardship at the GRACE Food Pantry. Sign up here. Want to see what a tangible

GRACE was honored to welcome the team at Johnson & Johnson to support the mission of GRACE at the Food Pantry. Johnson & Johnson aspires to make a profound impact on reducing infant and mother mortality rates around the world, along with the support and tools to see local families thrive. The monthly struggle with competing financial priorities or unforeseen circumstances makes it difficult for many families to reach a healthy place. The total estimated cost for diapers and wipes for one child approaches $1,100, and baby formula can set a family back $150 or more a month for mothers who aren’t able to breastfeed or do not produce breastmilk. With the average number of children ranging from 2-3 children per GRACE household, the residual costs can be detrimental to a family that relies on a fixed income to make ends meet. That’s why the GRACE Food Pantry also dispenses

Two years ago Grapevine Lake experienced one of the more devastating floods in recent memory. Businesses and parks all around the lake were deeply affected, among those being Big Daddy’s Ship Store. In keeping with this phenomenal community, the City of Grapevine, Chamber of Commerce, and community residents responded with an outpouring of support after the flooding caused considerable damage and extended loss of business. Big Daddy’s Ship Store prevailed. The lakeside restaurant continues to be a local hub for juicy burgers, fresh seafood and live entertainment. Now, Big Daddy’s Ship Store wants to give back. “The community was there for us during the worst of times, and what better way to show our appreciation than to pay it forward through our local non-profit GRACE?” said Matt Armand, co-owner of Big Daddy’s Ship Store. GRACE sees a seasonal decline during the summer months for essential items, including canned food and

This week the six Feed Our Kids centers came alive with animated children, delicious food and energetic volunteers. Who could kick off week one of Feed Our Kids better than our beloved men and women in uniform at the Grapevine Police Department? In just one day, the officers fed over 200 children at the Outreach Community Center, partnering with the McDonalds in Grapevine. The Grapevine Police Department has long been a strong ally with GRACE to protect our families from high-risk situations over the years. The department’s close proximity to our Transitional Housing program not only gives the residents an enhanced sense of safety, the police officers have made it their priority to get to know these families on a personal level and extend their professionalism wherever it is needed. There are so many internal examples that these men and women have gone above and beyond to respond to the