We are nothing short of awe-inspired by the integrity and dedication of the local National Charity League (NCL) chapters to extend grace to local families facing hardship. NCL Southlake has given nearly 500 hours of community service at GRACE sites, in addition to the 1,300 hours dedicated to Feed Our Kids. “Hollywood on the Runway,” this year’s Fashion Show benefit sold out with over 800 in attendance. The 20th annual event generated over $100,000 to beneficiary organizations, including GRACE programs. This year GRACE accepted a $4,000 monetary donation in addition to $5,000 earmarked for sponsoring Feed Our Kids sites. Since 1998, the service organization has awarded $138,000 to continue important programs such as Feed Our Kids, Christmas Cottage, as well as daily operations. The club’s excellent reputation has enabled them to be a strong force in the community, and GRACE is humbled to facilitate meeting the needs of mothers, fathers

Media Contact: Heather Ortner, GRACE Marketing & Communications Manager, 817-305-4652 You’re invited to help us celebrate the upcoming Gala with live music, hors d’oeuvres and bottomless champagne during our annual Gala Gifting Party, Wednesday, June 14 at Brio Tuscan Grille in Southlake. Entry to this exclusive party is an item donation valued at a minimum of $100, which is auctioned at the Gala to fund GRACE programs. 100% of all Gala proceeds advance the mission of GRACE by providing program funding throughout the year. In-kind donations of goods and services not only highlight local businesses with attendants, our Gala Auction generates a large portion of event revenue. Some examples of in-kind donations include, but are not limited to: Any kind of tickets – concerts, sporting events, races – the sky is the limit. Autographed memorabilia. A vacation home you would allow to be auctioned off for a week/weekend stay. Airlines miles.

All those interested in participating in Feed Our Kids are invited to attend the annual kickoff the evening of Tuesday, May 16 at First United Methodist Church- Leech Hall. Seasonal Programs Coordinator, Lori Stevens, reunites with seasoned volunteers and welcomes new groups to serve as hosts for meals during Feed Our Kids. Feed Our Kids is a longstanding supplemental lunch program over the summer months while school is not in session. Last year alone, the program provided 37,000 lunches each weekday until the new school year started. Event Details Feed Our Kids Kick-Off When         Tue May 16, 2017 6:30pm – 7:30pm Where        FUMC Grapevine-Leech Hall Email Lori Stevens if you have questions.

If you’re looking for a way to give back and enjoy some free entertainment, bring a canned good today or Saturday and receive $10 worth of game play. Main Event’s Grand Re-Opening is celebrating their building renovation, but they also want to do their part to restore hope to families facing food insecurity as part of their daily reality. Event details are below

For all the 1,062 documented hours Ed Folliard has spent serving at GRACE sites (and we suspect a great deal more), Ed never tires of seeking ways to help others. Decent people are willing to offer a helping hand when the need arises, but remarkable people like Ed seek out creative ways to serve without being asked. Ed is the epitome of a servant leader and he does so with a degree of modesty that amazes everyone he comes into contact with. Ed retired in 2008 from his position as Oak Lawn Fire Chief in Chicago after 20 years of service, but his commitment and passion for helping others and the community didn’t stop there. He is dedicated to helping the community that he and his wife, Karen, are so fond of. “Ed’s choice of careers speaks volumes to his character, and those virtues continue in his volunteer service,” notes

“Faces of GRACE” is an editorial series that highlights instrumental volunteers who offer their talents and resources to advance the life-changing mission of GRACE. While most ninth graders spend fourth period sitting at a desk, homeschooler Marshall and his mom, Becca, cultivate learning by sinking their hands in the dirt. In fact, before Marshall Clark was old enough to pick up a shovel, the pair has been tending to the GRACE Community Garden each Thursday afternoon for eight years. That’s over 800 Thursdays and approximately 2,000 hours! This week the mother-son duo reaped the harvest of carrots, cabbage and onions. Before going into the homes of families in need, the bounty is pruned, cleaned and sorted on the Food Pantry shelves by Becca and Marshall. The garden’s harvest provides fresh, organic produce for families who seek assistance and the Food Pantry. To date, nearly 1,000 pounds of wholesome food is

You’re invited to help us celebrate the upcoming Gala with live music, hors d’oeuvres and bottomless champagne during our annual Gala Gifting Party, Wednesday, June 14. Entry to this exclusive party is an item donation valued at a minimum of $100, which is auctioned at the Gala to fund GRACE programs. This event is graciously hosted by Gala Auction Chairs Ana Erwin and Allison Domanic on behalf of the Auction Committee, and sponsored by our friends at Brio Tuscan Grille. 100% of all Gala proceeds advance the mission of GRACE by providing program funding throughout the year. In-kind donations of goods and services not only highlight local businesses with attendants, our Gala Auction generations a large portion of event revenue. Mark your calendars for June 14! More details to come.

There’s one very striking account in the Bible when Elijah is in his time of need, and petitions a response from God. He’s instructed to stand on a mountaintop to await God’s presence. No doubt Elijah anticipated something worthy of an action-movie, and sure enough a wind came with such force that it struck rocks to pieces, but God’s presence was not there. Soon after, the earth trembled under his feet, and fire struck. Still, God’s voice was in none of them. Only in a “still, gentle whisper” was God’s voice carried in a breeze. Not only is this account telling of our grand expectations, we catch a glimpse of the kind of God we serve and how He oversees causes he cares about. This week GRACE Staff welcomed two key leaders: Board Member Mark Moyer and retired Resale Director Debbie Haley to join our monthly staff meeting. A theme

Some might be surprised to know that before a Transitional Housing client moves in, local congregations and community leaders, staff and volunteers attend a Blessing Event to welcome the client into their new home and ask God’s favor. By the time a client is immersed in the Transitional Housing program at GRACE, he or she is at their most vulnerable. Often the unseen emotional wounds are raw due to prolonged domestic abuse, sudden career loss, human trafficking or other severe circumstances that brought them to our doors. After becoming an orphan at an early age *Ashley found herself in multiple foster homes. The difficult journey that led her to GRACE would be too much for some, but Ashley’s determination to provide her toddler daughter a better life motivates her to seek safe housing in a stable environment, complete her higher education and gather a healthy savings. Congregants of Compass Church