One of the incredible aspects of having multiple outlets to the community is witnessing the unique blessings that come with each venture. While the primary goal of our resale operations is to generate revenue that sustain programs throughout the year, the same core values that drive our programs permeate in all our endeavors, including our resale operations. The resale staff are cognizant ambassadors of GRACE who understand that engaging with the community begins with respecting their customers. The friendly mindset has become so contagious among the shoppers that many consider both GRACEful Buys locations and Style & GRACE their neighborhood store. “I don’t know how many times we hear people say what a blessing our store has been because of what wonderful items a customer has purchased of great value that they wouldn’t have been able to afford if not for GRACE,” says GRACEful Buys Euless Manager Larry Cervantes. The

In less than a week, you and your family will have the opportunity to join the thousands of North Texas residents who amplify their gift during a one-day online event! Each online donation of $25 or more made between 6 am and midnight on Thursday, September 22 will be multiplied by $2.5 million in bonus funds and prizes through NorthTexasGivingDay.com. What’s all the buzz about North Texas Giving Day, you might ask? Throughout the year a pool of funds are raised as an incentive for the North Texas community to invest in causes they care about most. The collected funds are then redistributed to organizations based on participation of their donors with online gifts. Giving on North Texas Giving Day is a timely way to make your dollar go a little further. As with all donations made to GRACE, every dollar is maximized to bring food, clothing, shelter and medical

GRACE is privileged to honor Stacey Chase as the 2016 Shining Star Nominee at next week’s Shining Star Luncheon. Stacey Chase is an outstanding volunteer and supporter of multiple charities in the community. She exudes a passion in various capacities meet the needs of others through volunteerism. Stacey and her husband Kevin have been instrumental to the GRACE Gala in many facets. Last year as the 2015 Gala Chairs, the duo generated record-breaking proceeds to fund programs. Stacey is also heavily invested the GRACE Food Pantry, where she has worked behind the scenes twice a week for several years. Stacey’s philanthropic involvement extends beyond GRACE, including United Way, the University of Texas scholarship endowment, and CASA, where she is a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Her heart for human trafficking victims has involved her with other ministries like We Are Cherished and Rescue Her. Although Stacey deserves all of the recognition in the world for

It wouldn’t be a party without a “Shon-dunk” tank, BBQ and spirited décor. Last week the GRACE Board and Staff came together to celebrate the new fiscal year and reflect on God’s faithfulness thus far. GRACE Board President Don Johnston spoke on behalf of the Board and extended a particular thanks to the families of the staff members, who understand their loved ones’ role is more of a calling than a job. Most importantly, the time was well spent reflecting upon what matters most: being there for families in our neighborhoods and cities in desperate pursuit of hope. GRACE couldn’t open their doors a single day without the generosity of the community, so we thank you for allowing us to celebrate the new fiscal year strong, vibrant and eager to serve families in need. Here’s a quick look at GRACE Executive Director Shonda Schaefer in the “Shon-dunk” tank, who willingly

GRACE’s ability to offer a high degree of accountability and integrity is largely due to the tenure of the GRACE Board of Directors. The collective expertise of the GRACE Board is second to none, and GRACE is pleased to welcome three new community leaders to the slate: Stephanie Hays, Randy White and Jen Eisenbarth, RN, MSN, ACM. Stephanie Hays is a Senior Financial Advisor for Principal Financial Group, and has achieved the highest honors with the company including Pacesetter, Century Club, Honor Council Award and New Agent of the Year. Stephanie is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington Honors College as a Goolsby Scholar in Finance. She is part of the Million Dollar Round Table, a prestigious collaboration of the world’s leading professionals. As a member of the Gala Committee and Gala Raffle Chair, Stephanie brings an impressive level of dynamism and alacrity to

Carroll ISD partnered with GRACE and Ozarka to host an unprecedented district-wide drive that collected a total of 5,849 pounds of food! That’s an estimated 4,974 meals for approximately 1,200 families! Each school had some healthy competition with a #CompassionChallenge on social media and internal outlets. GRACE was overwhelmed by the collective support the Food Pantry received for this week-long challenge, with a mean of 480 pounds per school. In the end, Johnson Elementary ran away with the competition, with a staggering 1,187 pounds of food for families in need! Ozarka has pledged to donate one bottle of water for every food item given, which for those who love math is just shy over 700 gallons of crisp, spring water for families and seniors struggling to make ends meet. The winning school was announced at last week’s Southlake Dragons football game. Check out the album below!

What do Adrian Beltre, Cole Hammels and Ian Desmond have in common? Other than their legendary role in America’s game for the Texas Rangers, autographed memorabilia are just the tip of the Silent Auction iceberg, courtesy of Feature Sponsor HCL Technologies. The Silent Auction has become a notable fixture of the GRACE Gala, and the Gala Auction Committee procures packages for months to bring guests the most unique and impressive items for every hobby and taste. As Feature Sponsor, HCL allows GRACE to showcase and package these items in a way that is distinctive from other Silent Auctions. On the night of the Gala, the foyer is filled with luxurious packages, one-of-kind experiences, and gifts guaranteed to earn points with your significant other. The Mobile Bidding feature also allows guests to outbid their friends while enjoying all the amenities of the venue. Feature Sponsors like HCL underwrite the program services that sustain

If your family has jumped on the Amazon Prime wagon, chances are you’re frequently feeling like a rock star with free quick shipping, Kindle Unlimited and other perks. But did you know that Amazon will ALSO match a portion of your purchase to benefit your selected charity? Meet Amazon Smile, a program that matches 0.5% in funds every time you select “Check Out”. It only takes a moment to select GRACE on Smile.Amazon.com, and from then on all transactions used under the same Amazon Smile link will be subject to the bonus gifts at no cost to you. Some donors keep the Amazon Smile link on their toolbar, and the process quickly becomes second nature. The easiest part is that you can use your current Amazon account by clicking through the redirect link here. When you take advantage of Amazon Pantry, Kindle E-Books or even that Cyber Monday after the

Events are Connect Meeting’s bread and butter, so when they hosted their very own event at the Gaylord Convention Center last week, they knew they had to do something special. The team at the Connect Meetings collected an estimated 800 boxes of care packages for infants that will support new families seeking assistance at the GRACE Food Pantry and Transitional Housing. Each kit contains baby essentials—a pacifier, bib, lotion, formula and diapers. In addition the company collected 500 cloth bags to go to families in need. When a family is in distress, it’s usually smaller items like baby wipes, diapers and formula that take its toll on a fixed income. Alleviating these burdens not only help prepare families who have a lot in their plate, it encourages them by knowing the community is there for them in all things, big and small. Connect Meetings set out the items and encouraged

World Wide Technology (WWT) might be what it sounds like—a global leader in technology integration—but the local team certainly doesn’t shy away from the plow. The team at North Texas Commercial Sales for WWT rolled up their sleeves for a hearty workday at the GRACE Community Gardens last week, which cultivated the soil for healthy, wholesome food for families in need. World Wide Technology was recently named among the 50 Best Workplaces for Giving Back by Great Place to Work and Fortune Magazine. The company has made the prestigious list for the second consecutive year. “Our local team loves what GRACE stands for,” says Regional Manager Curt McLaughlin, “The most rewarding experience for the team is knowing our help is an essential part of giving GRACE’s members organic healthy food options versus what otherwise would be available.  Our team will continue to support the GRACE Community Gardens on a constant