ABOUT GRACE

Based in Grapevine, Texas, GRACE is a nonprofit relief agency that provides food, clothing, financial assistance, and other vital necessities to people who are struggling with a limited income or recent emergency.

At GRACE, we believe that encouraging self-sufficiency will, in turn, encourage community cohesiveness. Compassion and assistance are offered as a response to God’s grace by local churches in partnership with municipalities, businesses, civic organizations, and individuals.

OUR MISSION

As a steward of God’s blessings and resources in the community, GRACE demonstrates compassion for those less fortunate by providing assistance to individuals and families in crisis and guidance toward self-sufficiency.

THE GRACE HISTORY

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, transitional housing, and general emergency assistance (food, clothes, furniture, financial assistance, information and referrals).