The end of the year is always a wonderful time to be a part of GRACE but it’s also an unbelievably hectic one as well. We love being busy but we can’t make the Holiday Magic happen without you! The GRACE Staff and our clients rely on you, the volunteer, taking your time to help build a stronger community and working hard to make sure that every family has a Christmas filled love, laughs, and delicious food.
We have nearly an endless number of ways that you can donate your time – whether it’s helping unload cars or sort donated items at Donation Station, helping families get a delicious Christmas ham from our Food Pantry, or making sure that families have wonderful gifts underneath their tree at Christmas Cottage…if your heart wants to give back we’d love to have you.
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and all is well! As a GRACE supporter and friend, I wanted to reach out to you about several volunteer needs that we have right now. As you know, this has been a challenging year for everyone.
“GRACE is seeing a significant increase in need, but a decrease in volunteers (understandably so!) who are able to help,” Lara Hohweiler, GRACE Director of Community Engagement. “Please help us meet the need by signing up to volunteer or by spreading the word!”
Here’s how you can help:
Food Pantry Sorting- Group Shifts
We are looking for groups of four (4) who can sign up together to help sort donations and put together Holiday Food Boxes as we gear up for December and the Holidays! We would love to have your group help us out! Due to capacity issues and COVID tracking, we will have two groups of four (4) working each shift, separately. However, if you have a group of eight (8), you can sign up for both shifts! Please sign up and view details by clicking the link HERE.
Pantry- Weekly Individual Shifts
The pantry is in search of a handful of volunteers who can donate their time on a weekly basis to help with pricing, sorting, and organizing food for the Emergency Food Boxes. Although our pantry is traditionally client choice/set up like a grocery store, we have had to make the difficult decision to switch to emergency boxes in order to meet the need this holiday season. You can sign up to help put together Emergency Food Boxes HERE.
Christmas Cottage- Individual or Group Shifts
Our annual holiday program is already in full swing! We begin to serve clients on Monday, December 7th and volunteers are crucial to this process. We need help with client assistance (front end) as well as with receiving and sorting donations (back end). You can view details and sign up HERE for the Christmas Cottage!
Donation Station- Individual and Group Shifts
This is the busiest month of the year for our drive-thru donation drop off! Donation Station is where all gently used incoming donations are processed for client need, resale operations, and missions. Volunteers are needed to help receive and sort donations, test electronics, load trucks, and more. You can sign up to help by clicking HERE.
NOTE- We are offering double hours to those who volunteer for Donation Station. If you are needing to complete volunteer hours, please check with the company or organization that assigned your hours to make sure that double hours are permitted on your end.
Unable to volunteer, but would still like to donate?
As you can imagine, our need is higher than ever this year… and we expect that number to continue to rise. However, GRACE is blessed to have an amazing community who surrounds families in crisis. You can make a charitable contribution to help those who are struggling by clicking HERE.
Last, but certainly not least- PRAY!
Pray that GRACE clients, staff, and volunteers are safe and healthy this holiday season… and that we as a community are able to meet the needs of our neighbors who are struggling.
Sign up today and help GRACE end this year with big smiles and open hearts!
