We are thrilled to have Riley Kelly join the Development team as the Development Manager and Grant writer. Riley is a National Merit Scholar University of Oklahoma alumni, graduating with her Master of Social Work, Summa Cum Laude, among other academic distinctions. We’ve asked Riley what motivates her to further the GRACE mission. What brings you to GRACE?  My husband and I lived in Grapevine for a little over a year, and GRACE clearly had a huge presence in the community. I have always loved social services, and I entered the social work field to help people through difficult circumstances so that they can thrive and support themselves and their families, so of course I had great admiration for the GRACE mission. Describe your typical day  I spend my days learning the “ins and outs” of our programs so that I can effectively communicate to potential funders what we do

Here’s a fun project to get your children engaged in the community to help us supplement our Food Pantry inventory. Summer months are busy at the Food Pantry, but food donations are generally lower. Being intentional with your children to give this summer promotes generosity later in life, the opportunity to empathize with other families, and learn that every little bit can have an impact. Here’s a photo list so our littlest donors can help mom and dad shop for the Food Pantry’s Top Ten List! Canned Meat -Spam, Vienna Sausages, Beef Stew, Spaghetti, Chili Condiments- Mayonnaise, Ketchup, Mustard Canned Spaghetti Sauce Dry Pasta- Shells or Elbows Refried Beans Pancake Syrup Canned Fruit- Peaches, Fruit Cocktail, Pineapple Diapers- Sizes 5 Or 6 Deodorant- Any Type Is Appreciated Bath Soap Bars Print the photo below or download the PDF FoodPantryShoppingList here.     

Irene*, a local senior who participates in our Friends & Family senior assistance program, comes from a history of Alzheimer’s. In fact, the terrible disease claimed the life of Irene’s mother. With heightened risk of developing the disease herself, Irene became increasingly aware of any warning signs, and feared she would slowly deteriorate without having anyone by her side. She had the courage to ask GRACE for help with a volunteer match to provide companionship, and regular phone calls to check in with Irene and make sure her mental clarity was still sharp. On her narrowly-fixed income, she knew an early onset familial analysis was not an affordable option. So when she came across a study that offered free testing for qualified candidates, she was eager to be considered. Irene had no transportation, however, and was not able to make the trip to Fort Worth alone. Friends & Family Coordinator,

Any family who wants to immerse their children in a life of serving should take a page from the Kossuth family. Dr. Michael Kossuth and his six siblings spent their formative adolescent and high school years developing relationships with the community through GRACE since 1999. What began as simple projects like stuffing envelopes, sorting canned goods or hauling boxes, their family service amassed to an astounding 2,383 collective hours, including 600 hours from Michael Kossuth, now a partner at Restoration Physical Therapy. Dr. Kossuth has fond memories of volunteer service at GRACE, and the relationships he forged stayed with him through adulthood. “The employees and other volunteers at GRACE truly have a heart for people in the community,” said Michael. “There were several GRACE volunteers that were a blessing to my family and influential in developing my passion to serve.” He recalls Leslie Grieme, who would join them once a

Cooper Doshier and the pre-k graduates at First Presbyterian Preschool revealed what Jesus meant when he reminded us to have faith like a child. Last week Cooper sought out Pastor Bob, one of the Chapel leaders at the school, to give him his piggy bank funds to feed children in need. When Cooper learned that there were some children who didn’t have access to a warm meal or snacks throughout the day, it moved his heart to give everything he could. To honor the purity of Cooper’s heart, a certificate on behalf of GRACE and the school was presented to Cooper to signify his act of abundant generosity. First Presbyterian Church Grapevine instills a culture of generosity down to their youngest congregants. The church has invested over 1,000 collective volunteer hours and given above and beyond with $111,000 to continue GRACE programs. They also encourage their members to utilize their

Annual Report for web

The local Postal Service delivered more than our mail at the Food Pantry this month. Volunteers and postal workers collected bags of groceries as part of a national campaign to Stamp Out Hunger. Empty bags were left at homes to be filled with food to go to the GRACE Food Pantry and local food banks. The community collected 4,518 pounds of groceries—that’s more than the weight of a rhinoceros! Rather than being shipped to some regional distribution center miles away all the food collected by the community goes back to homes in their neighborhoods and cities. The gift came just in time, as the Food Pantry inventory was running low, and the shelves a bit more sparse than usual. We can always count on this wonderful community to meet the daily needs of families who seek haven at GRACE. Every can of food or gallon of milk this community collects

If you want to look at the future of our community, look to these emerging leaders who are challenging the status quo and having fun while doing it. SASO, which is an abbreviation for “Scholars & Athletes Serving Others”, is an inclusive non-profit in its own right, allowing Southlake high school boys and girls and their mothers to partner in serving their cities while maintaining high academic standards. The Summy family founded the Supreme Court Youth Organization in 2006 as a way to provide service opportunities for at-risk youth. It has since increased in scope to facilitate benevolence and personal growth opportunities for girls and boys from all walks of life and is now known, respectively, as SASO. In honor of Mother’s Day, GRACE had the honor of hosting SASO members to greet donors, sort goods, test electronics and tag items at Donation Station. Inspired to serve? Donation Station is