GRACE was organized in 1987 as a response to the growing need for emergency assistance services in far northeast Tarrant County, an area almost 20 miles from state, county and other major resources at that time. Local churches responded to community needs with a plan for distributing available resources through Grapevine’s Ministerial Alliance. People in need were usually routed to at least three churches to meet their basic needs, and there was inevitable confusion over open hours and locations.

By March of 1986, a steering committee of church and civic representatives formed to lay the groundwork for a relief center. They believed that centralizing resources and including the business community could result in more resources with better accessibility for local people who needed help.

The working model was N.E.E.D. (North East Emergency Distribution), a coalition of more than 40 churches providing assistance in the HEB and Haltom City area. In August of 1987, N.E.E.D. provided $2,000 in seed money, and in September, GRACE began operation.

Today, GRACE continues to be a centralized, coordinated effort of churches, businesses and individuals donating food, clothing, monetary donations, and even professional services to Grapevine, Colleyville, and Southlake residents, as well as homeless and transient families in need. Programs have grown to include low cost medical services, housing opportunities, and general emergency assistance (food, clothes, furniture, financial assistance, information and referrals).