Durham Intermediate School did it again, only this time with oodles of dungarees—253 pairs to be exact! GRACE first got to know the students two years ago with the launch of their charity campaign, “Helping others is a ‘Bucket’ of fun”, where the students sold 2,600 paper designs to raise $1,300 for GRACE programs. To think this same group of young children, some in or approaching 8th grade, have now managed a marketing campaign of this magnitude fills us with pride. The students oversaw all the marketing logistics and stood with homemade signs outside the drop off area. They also designed posters that were shared throughout the school and broadcast through the school’s radio and TV station. Denim is an essential commodity in all walks of life. For low-income families or teens experiencing homelessness, jeans are the most requested clothing item. They can be worn multiple times between washes, are durable,

The Southlake Dragons Varsity Baseball team went for an extra inning last week. The group had such a positive response that they divided and conquered to serve at not one, but BOTH GRACEful Buys locations! The teams were introduced to the colored tagging system in the Men’s and Women’s section. The staff was amazed by how quickly the team finished the task at hand. The team also made a huge impression with their contagious energy as they helped load furniture for a customer. “Our Varsity Dragon baseball players enjoyed the opportunity to give back to their community through GRACE,” said Coach Zach Sellers. “This was a chance for our team to serve others and put others first. Many of our players work with nonprofit groups year round because they know the importance of caring for others. We really have a special group of guys!” Volunteers are a vital part of our

The GRACE Community Garden is in full bloom for the spring, and we are calling all families to take part in Family Gardening Day on Saturday, April 8. This month’s volunteers were hard at work, planting 27 pounds of potatoes, 72 cabbages and 800 onions—all in under three hours! Volunteers are putting their green thumbs to good use on St. Patrick’s Day weekend by planting squash, melons, corn and peppers. Families are invited to continue their work for the April workday, where volunteers will weed the nightshades plot, plant cucumbers and mulch new walkways. Garden workdays are rewarding, feasible opportunities to help local families in a tangible way. Having access to fresh fruits and vegetables is a game changer for families, for whom fruits are a rare luxury and nutrition is key. The GRACE Community Garden provides an average of 1,800 pounds of fresh, organic produce each year to nourish

A year and a half ago we introduced the GRACE family to Luther, a 36 year-old single father with his then 12 year-old son. A series of tragic events led him and his son on the brink of homelessness. You can read Luther’s story in his own words here. By his own admission, the emotional hardship of personal loss left Luther in a fragile state that the pressures of life too heavy a burden to carry on his own. As soon as Luther entered the Transitional Housing program, GRACE collaborated with our counseling partners, including Senior Adult Pastor Frank Roberson, LPC, MAMFC of First Baptist Grapevine to meet with Luther on a regular basis. Roberson’s unique ability as a seminary-trained pastor and state licensed counselor allowed him to forge a relationship with Luther and present coping strategies when dealing with relationships, life events and grief. Luther is an example of

When Transitional Housing graduates follow new horizons after completing the program, it’s always bittersweet. Your generosity facilitates a life-changing experience that creates a lasting bond with their peers and the staff at GRACE. Even though we know that we’ll keep in touch as their journey moves forward, a great deal of energy goes into allowing new families to enter the Transitional Housing Program, which can last up to two years of intense case management. GRACE anticipates nearly a dozen new families this fiscal year. It’s crucial that these women and men feel absolutely reassured when they come to GRACE, and have all the houseware comforts needed to make a new future. We are calling for groups to prayerfully consider adopting a household, which means supplying everything a family would need when moving to a new location. This would include all kitchen utensils, cleaning supplies, furnishings and food in the refrigerator.

Once a month, volunteers with Friends & Family deliver commodities to our senior population, many who are isolated, physically impaired or immobile. These frequent visits, along with additional visits throughout the month, often forge a bond between the volunteer and the senior. Once a trust relationship is established, needs arise that might otherwise go unnoticed. On an unusually bleak morning, a volunteer couldn’t help but notice how chilled Ruby’s* apartment was. Ruby shared that her heating unit stopped working, and there was nowhere else to turn for help. The volunteer quickly got in touch with a GRACE staff member to meet the need. When longtime supporter Charlie Walker of Walker Engineering learned of the situation, not only did he immediately purchase the unit, he installed it himself. While it’s never our hope that a client go without such an essential utility, the situation made us evaluate the client’s needs from

A note from the Executive Director I am tremendously humbled to receive the 2017 D.E. Box Citizen of the Year Award from the Grapevine Chamber not because of any accomplishments of my own, but the legacy of the leaders who have preceded me. To fully appreciate the award’s namesake, some background is appropriate. D.E. Box moved to Grapevine in 1919 to found the Tarrant County State Bank, which is now known as First National Bank of Grapevine. In the beginning of the 20th century, establishing a local bank was a strategic move so Grapevine families could flourish with commerce and small business following the slump of the First World War. Box played integral roles in the community, also founding Box Insurance and serving as a Mason and member of the Lions Club and Texas Bankers Association, among others. Upon his death in 1957, The Grapevine Chamber established an award in

There are moments when all the resources, collaboration, dedication and prayer come into beautiful fruition as faith is restored to families who once felt all hope was lost. Fifty guests treasured one such occasion at an intimate gathering last month to honor seven Transitional Housing graduates whose journey to independence inspired and moved us deeply. Transitional Housing graduation is a rare opportunity to witness personal triumphs and celebrate the courage of women and men who, with the backing of the community, can reflect on all they have achieved while in the program. This graduating class in particular endured various personal tragedies such as homelessness, job loss, addictions by their caregivers, physical abuse and lack of basic education. While came from different backgrounds with different stories a consistent theme remained: a drive to honor God with their lives and give their children a life they deserved. Two years ago, stories of

The Grapevine Fire Department staff hosted an awareness campaign in hopes to strengthen the GRACE partnership and further inform the staff about the broad scope of services available to families in crisis. Client Services Manager Marcela Melendez presented to each shift over a period of two days. After a tragedy such as a home fire occurs and the victims’ immediate needs are met, families often require continued care and long-term solutions that might come in the form of case management, job training or shelter referrals. Presenting all the services GRACE has to offer assures law enforcement, fire fighters and other first responders that they are relaying the correct information to families who can’t afford the time it takes to sift through red tape. A simple code violation, for instance, might unearth housing instability that could be managed with financial coaching or utility assistance. Each family situation is unique, and individualized

The Bay View Club embraces a rich history as oldest culture club in Grapevine. The women’s literary club has continually met in member’s homes since its founding in 1908. The club has also remained invitation-only, and is limited to 24 decedents of early Tarrant County residents. These women may come together to honor an important legacy, but they are just as committed to making the future brighter for families living in the cities they love. Last month the ladies took a collection to purchase a defibrillator for the Community Clinic, which can deliver life-saving treatment to a patient in the midst of a cardiac arrest. The prestigious club has embarked on many philanthropic endeavors for over a century. During World War I, meetings were suspended to work for the Red Cross making hospital garments. During the Second World War, the women collected nylon hose to aid the war effort. The