Two weeks ago families displaced by Hurricane Laura came to Grapevine seeking refuge from the storm. Many have gone home but GRACE is continuing to aid those who are unable to return. By August 31st over 1,400 refugees were being housed at the Gaylord Texan and GRACE was there to help. Our staff and volunteers helped hand out essentials to people fleeing the Category 4 storm. After receiving help from GRACE and other community organizations most are either back home or have been re-housed at another location. Unfortunately, many of those who have not been able to go home are families from parts of Louisiana that have not been given the ok to go back due to destruction from the hurricane. “We are continuing to assist those people and families with the items they need like clothing, diapers, formula, diaper wipes, and medical supplies,” Stacy Pacholick, GRACE Chief Program Officer.

After crushing summer heat, it’s finally time to enjoy the great outdoors and what better way to do that than at the GRACE Community Garden! This Saturday is Early Fall Tending day. Participants will plant winter squash, which does well in the fall weather; that squash will go in the pantry once harvested. Some of the other plots that will be worked include the sweet potatoes that were planted in May and need to be harvested.   Led by Caryn Hutchinson, who has been with the GRACE Community Garden for 12 years, Garden Days are a great way to give back to the community and for those new to gardening, a wonderful opportunity to learn. “Volunteers do not need to be gardeners, we demonstrate and teach as we go,” said Caryn, who began her gardening career as a 12-year-old. “Our GRACE Garden simply provides the blessing of fresh, wholesome food to

After crushing summer heat, it’s finally time to enjoy the great outdoors and what better way to do that than at the GRACE Community Garden! This Saturday is Early Fall Tending day. Participants will plant winter squash, which does well in the fall weather; that squash will go in the pantry once harvested. Some of the other plots that will be worked include the sweet potatoes that were planted in May and need to be harvested.   Led by Caryn Hutchinson, who has been with the GRACE Community Garden for 12 years, Garden Days are a great way to give back to the community and for those new to gardening, a wonderful opportunity to learn. “Volunteers do not need to be gardeners, we demonstrate and teach as we go,” said Caryn, who began her gardening career as a 12-year-old. “Our GRACE Garden simply provides the blessing of fresh, wholesome food to

A tour of GRACE sites and facilities is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., Monday, September 14. It is for everyone interested in the workings and locations of GRACE. Ordinarily, this tour is scheduled in September to welcome and introduce GRACE to new members of the Board of Directors. This year, though, we wanted to take the opportunity to invite anyone that is interested in learning more about our organization. GRACE operations cover numerous sites, programs, services, and opportunities for our clients so taking time to see our facilities really helps to put it all into perspective. Our tour covers not only our history but we also walk through the facilities themselves and introduce the people who operate them. “Touring our facilities is maybe the best way to really see how GRACE operates,” said Mark Woolverton, GRACE Chief Development Officer. “It’s always exciting to show our new Board members the facilities but

The GRACE Family took a moment to welcome another new family to our Transitional Housing Program this week. The client’s ‘First Look’ at their new home and the home blessing by Pastor Sterling Smith of White’s Chapel United Methodist Church are now conducted online via Zoom but that doesn’t stop anyone involved from feeling the emotions of a family starting a new life.   This week’s home reveal to a mother and her beautiful daughter was especially touching. After welcoming the new family into their gorgeous and fully furnished home, the new resident spoke very openly about her struggles. “I am so thankful that the Lord has not only given me new life but abundant life and I thank you all so, so much.” GRACE staff along with a collection of volunteers and partners watched as the family discovered new furniture, full cabinets, a stocked fridge, and the ‘real’ beds

GRACE is always working to find new ways to help our clients grow, and a new partnership with a local E-Learning company is providing fantastic technology to do just that. Recently one of our partners, 6 Stones alerted us about a new E-Learning app that they felt would be perfect for our clients. Headquartered in Grapevine, AdvanceNet Technology Services provides online learning classes to the social sector. Available thru computer or smart phone, AdvanceNet Technology Services allows our clients to learn valuable lessons from world class firms like Accenture, Microsoft, and the FDIC in subjects including financial literacy, job and career recruitment, and E-mentoring. Live training events and soft skill training like workplace skills are also available, allowing each student an opportunity to learn different skills that will truly benefit their lives and careers. COVID-19 caused real problems with how GRACE approached learning and skills training. Not being able to

This year North Texans don’t have to wait until North Texas Giving Day (September 17) to be a Giving Hero and help GRACE. Donors can schedule gifts now before North Texas Giving Day even begins! Scheduled giving is open now and we hope that everyone will participate. 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 care to local families in the midst of hardship. North Texas Giving Day not only raises money for organizations like us, it also raises awareness

GRACE is currently serving Hurricane Laura refugees still sheltered in local hotels. “Our mission guides us to ‘demonstrate compassion for those less fortunate by providing assistance to individuals and families in crisis’,” said GRACE Chief Program Officer Stacy Pacholick. “And while we often identify ‘those less fortunate’ as being unable to afford proper food, shelter, clothing, or medical care, in this instance, there is no denying these folks are facing one of the most devastating crises in their lives.” Refugees from Hurricane Laura began arriving in Grapevine ahead of the storm’s anticipated landfall last Wednesday, August 26. By Monday of this week, nearly 400 rooms at the Gaylord Texan were dedicated to those who fled the destruction of the Category 4 storm. While Laura was still in the Gulf of Mexico swirling towards the Texas-Louisiana border, local and state officials, fearing COVID-19 exposure, had made the decision to house evacuees