GROUP PROVIDES SECURITY TO CHILDREN FACING LOSS

Thanks to Tarrant County’s chapter of Project Linus, over 100 infants, adolescents and teens experiencing crisis will have the security, warmth and comfort of a vibrant new blanket. Project Linus began in 1995, after its founder was inspired to make blankets for children at her local pediatric cancer center.  The program has expanded to benefit children facing varying degrees of trauma. Project Linus has now given an estimated 4,000,000 blankets to children ages 0-18 nationwide. The new quilts, comforters, crocheted, knitted and fleece blankets are accepted by most fabric retailers as a respected drop off location. The blankets recently donated on behalf of Project Linus will be given to GRACE families with children in the midst or aftermath of homelessness, illness, fire or other family emergency. Children in our Transitional Housing program will also receive a blanket of their own. Remarkably enough, sometimes it’s the small measures of comfort that

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GRACE GROCERY GIVEAWAY DELIVERS

We achieved a new milestone for our Mobile Pantry its first month, serving 1,121 family members with $11,500 worth of groceries to 248 families! The Mobile Food Pantry began as a pilot program last summer to ensure perishable food donated at the end of the week could be enjoyed over the weekend at their peak of freshness. Now popular demand and community support have spurred a new tradition of GRACE Grocery Giveaway, GRACE’s first Mobile Pantry program. Each Friday during the summer, 10-20 volunteers unload a truck filled with produce and kitchen staples to be given to families in neighborhoods where residents were most vulnerable to food insecurity. The program has worked seamlessly in conjunction with our Feed Our Kids program, and the experience has been richly rewarding for volunteers and receivers alike. In a similar fashion to the Food Pantry, GRACE Grocery Giveaway maintains the dignity of each family

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COMMUNITY GARDEN RAKES UP NEARLY 1,000 POUNDS OF ORGANIC PRODUCE

We are pleased to report the fruit of your labor—over 760 pounds of fresh, organic produce in the last six months were given to families in need through the GRACE Community Garden! Just to put that in perspective, that small plot land you so diligently tended to led to a harvest that collectively weighs the same as a grand piano, a pair of kangaroos, a motorcycle or a vending machine! To families struggling to make ends meet, a cupboard filled with fresh produce, kitchen staples and proteins are worth more than their weight in gold (or a vending machine, for that matter.) GRACE is indebted to those who brave the summer heat and roll up their sleeves during Garden Work days. If you’ve never been a part of a Garden Day, it’s a perfect opportunity for your group or family to serve! The next Garden Date will be on Saturday, July 23

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FOOD TRUCK PUTS HUNGER IN THEIR REARVIEW MIRROR

Meet the bright blue truck that “breaks for food.” GRACE partnered with First Presbyterian Church in Grapevine and NorthPark Presbyterian Church to reverse hunger in the Northeastern Tarrant County one parking lot at a time. Rather than serve food, this food truck accepts donations from the community on behalf of those in need and gives to the local food pantry. You might see the food truck frequent festivals, events and grocery store parking lots between here and Dallas with plenty of room to accept non-perishable food donations. Last week members of First Presbyterian parked near the Southlake Kroger from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and amassed an impressive load of donations from the community—about 19 barrels and just over 1,000 pounds full of food to the GRACE Food Pantry! Donations went beyond canned goods to other staples like diapers, hygiene items and cleaning products. The truck also offered a “virtual

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SOUTHLAKE CHAMBER HONORS COMMUNITY LEADERS

The Southlake Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet on June 23 and honored several recipients who are affiliated with GRACE programs and services. We are proud of all of our volunteers and congratulate all who are nominated and receiving awards in our communities. The Chamber Awards for 2016 went to the following individuals and businesses: Chamber Chairman’s Award- Mike Tesoriero Chamber Chairman’s Award- Cheryl Fairbanks Ambassador of the Year- Scott Baker Chamber President’s Award- Bill Buffington Volunteers of the Year- Chris and Stacey Archer Civic Group of the Year- Miracle League Small Business of the Year- Iron Tribe Corporate Business of the Year- Sabre Citizen of the Year- Judge Mike Farhat Mike Tesoriero received the Chamber Chairman’s Award, one of the Chamber’s highest honors. Mike and his wife Nicole have chronicled the community’s best moments since founding Southlake Style in 2006, making it the longest-running magazine in Southlake’s

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GRACE WELCOMES NEW EMCEE TO THE GALA

We are tremendously honored to have NBC 5 DFW’s First at Four Anchor and Reporter Bianca Castro as the GRACE Gala emcee on October 22.  Bianca comes home to Dallas-Fort Worth from Orlando, where she served as news anchor and reporter at ABC’s WFTV. The role of the emcee is an important one to inform, inspire and introduce guests to all things GRACE the night of the Gala. After anchoring in the mornings, Bianca found her niche in investigative reporting on the ground. She quickly became one of the station’s enterprise reporters who delivered exclusive stories and holding public officials accountable. One series of her reports helped lead to the resignation of the administration in charge of public funds meant for job seekers. She also contributed to the Trayvon Martin shooting coverage. Outside of work it’s important to Bianca and her family to volunteer in the metroplex. She sat on the board of

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BACK TO SCHOOL NEEDS

It’s hard to imagine that school is just around the corner, but soon hundreds of children will be in need of basic school supplies to equip them for the new schoolyear. We’ve generated a list of needs that cover children from elementary school through high school, along with many ideas that you and your group and can collect the goods with plenty of summer days by the pool to spare. Click here for this year’s Back to School Supply Drive list Click here for Back to School Drive Ideas

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SPOTTED AT GRACE? THERE’S A TAG FOR THAT

When your family or group serves at one of our sites, be sure to share your pics on social media with the #GRACEGrapevine! Highlight your work with seasonal programs with the hashtag #FeedOurKids or #ChristmasCottage. This gives us an opportunity to thank you publicly and share your photo on our page, so that the community sees our wonderful volunteers at work! While you’re at it, be sure to connect with all our social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter. If Instagram and Pinterest are more your fancy, be sure to visit our pages. Enjoy the album below for groups and individuals we spotted this week at #GRACEGrapevine!

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LOCAL MARKET STREET DONATES TO GRACE

GRACE was honored to receive a generous $1,000 donation on behalf of the Market Street location in Colleyville. The year 2016 is a historic year that marks one century of business for Market Street. United Supermarkets celebrated their legacy with a “100 days of giving” campaign that gifted nonprofits with donations to strengthen the local community. United Supermarkets is a Texas-based grocery chain gracing 32 stores across north and west Texas, with their primary distribution center facility located right here in Roanoke. The Colleyville location regularly partners with the GRACE Food Pantry to provide bakery goods, sweets and frozen items to replenish the Food Pantry inventory. GRACE is grateful to have the partnership from local grocers whose business plan goes beyond dollars and cents. Their expertise and supplemental gifts are invaluable to our operations at the Food Pantry. If you would like to get more involved with the Food Pantry,

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