Even though loss and grief are part of the human experience, they are challenging to navigate – even more so when the loss is sudden.

Last month, a client came to GRACE seeking rental assistance, our most sought resource. However, during the intake process, the care manager quickly realized this situation was different.

This sweet woman was in tears and included in her documentation was a death certificate. She had suddenly lost her husband two weeks prior and didn’t know what to do.

The future had been bright! He had just accepted a new position with better pay, and they were planning to move, but now – she was alone.

He was the sole provider of her household and his passing left her to care for their four grandchildren alone, and without resources. Their savings account had been depleted by funeral expenses, and she was now trying to find work.

No client who comes through our doors expects to be here, yet always expresses that they don’t know what they’d have done if it weren’t for GRACE.

After hearing the entirety of her story, GRACE was able to provide the resources needed for her and her grandchildren to remain secure until they found their footing with an invitation to return for more services if needed in the future.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

Housing is the Focus of the FY24 Annual Report

With the rising costs of housing, healthcare, groceries and other necessities throughout the year, many conversations on how best GRACE could serve the community took place in FY24.

Not surprisingly, the need for affordable housing came to the forefront. Individuals and families experiencing housing instability in our area continues to grow, and covering the cost is a continual challenge for GRACE.

The GRACE FY24 Annual Report, released this week, focuses on the innovative ways GRACE is addressing this challenge. In some cases, simply covering the costs of food and utilities helped families refocus on rent.

In more dire cases, bringing a family into GRACE Mentorship Housing was necessary. A trial program, Covered by GRACE, was implemented to help families recover from the loss of housing and quickly move into a new home.

These services were provided during the fiscal year that ended August 31, 2024.

– 613 homes were secured by GRACE Rental Assistance and Mentorship Housing

– 1,026 families obtained food through the GRACE Grocery Giveaway

– 2,277 cases were opened for new clients by GRACE Care Managers

– 5,150 visits were made by patients to the GRACE Community Clinic

– 10,236 unduplicated individuals visited GRACE Client Services

– 11,443 shoppers visited the GRACE Food Pantry

– 36,140 lunches were served to children during the GRACE Feed Our Kids program

As we advance our mission to extend compassion and assistance to struggling families, the FY24 Annual Report updates ways in which GRACE tackled the increasing number of clients and need for services presented in the FY23 Annual Report.

As always, your continued support is needed and appreciated. In turn, GRACE pledges to honor your generosity with studied and thoughtful stewardship of your gifts—time, talent, treasure, and testimony.

See the impact of GRACE in our community in finer detail by viewing our FY24 Annual Report here.

The chef’s all agree, this year’s Perfect Recipe had all the right ingredients – Dedication; Compassion; Understanding; Enthusiasm; Reliability; Generosity and Enthusiasm. All mixed together it was determined that GRACE Volunteers take the cake!

While all our volunteers “rise to the occasion,” we wanted to share with you the one’s that will go down in the GRACE Recipe Book Hall of Fame for 2024!

Volunteer of the Year – Kindal Wright Kreamer

Volunteer Group of the Year – Compass Church

Mentorship Housing – Kim Haggerty

Special Events – Sally Klein

Seasonal Programs – D’Ray Moore

Jake Williamson Youth Volunteer – Zania Karim

GRACEful Buys Grapevine – Southlake Carroll High School Education Group

GRACEful Buys Euless – Wendy Bailey

Friends & Family – Mike Conroy

Food Pantry – Mike Pool

Emergency Assistance – White’s Chapel Methodist Church – Martha Reukema

Donation Station – The Food Lounge – Southlake

Development – Theresa & Justin Mason

Community Garden – All GRACE Community Garden Volunteers

Community Clinic – Karen Ninan

Clothing Room – Louise Young

Board Member – Kevin McNamara

Once again, thank you to all of our volunteers. Your contribution is what makes GRACE so….flavorable! And, the impact YOU make on our community is immeasurable!

We’d like to dedicate this year’s Recipe Book to White’s Chapel own Chef Joey for his amazing culinary skills. And, to White’s Chapel Methodist Church, for the use of Evan’s Hall once again this year. Special thank you to Todd Bockenfeld with HTeaO for providing our drinks and to Selph Marketing for the use of the fun selfie booth.

At GRACE, we realize that sponsors are more than just financial supporters; they are key partners in helping to achieve our mission. When sponsoring, companies and individuals are not just supporting an event; they are supporting changed lives for the better, healthy families, and stronger communities all year long.

This year we are blessed to once again welcome one of our most dedicated supporters, Park Place Lexus and Land Rover of Grapevine, as our Presenting Sponsor of Designer Bags & Bingo. As Presenting Sponsor, they are leading the way by demonstrating their shared vision for our community again this year, and we could not be more thankful!

Park Place has been a devoted donor and supporter of GRACE not only as Presenting Sponsor of DBB year over year, but also as GRACE Gala supporters at varying levels of sponsorship, through provision of valuable packages to Silent Auction and of course, providing their beautiful dealership as the venue for the annual GRACE Poker Tournament.

Following their lead in generous sponsorship and support within our community through GRACE is the Joanne E. “Jody” Matthews Estate who is this year’s Blackout Sponsor.

Jody’s legacy lives on in support of GRACE through two of her closest friends who are themselves long-time volunteers and supporters of GRACE. We are humbled to honor her memory together and are grateful for the enduring support and generosity of the Jody Matthews Estate through sponsorship of many of our GRACE events and programs, including Designer Bags and Bingo.

Thank you to Park Place Lexus and Land Rover of Grapevine, the Joanne E. “Jody” Matthews Estate, and all of our sponsors that have given so generously to ensure that this year’s Designer Bags and Bingo event, and therefore the GRACE mission, is a success again this year!

GRACE was filled with Easter spirit this month, thanks to the many thoughtfully prepared Easter baskets donated by our generous friends at Good Shepherd Catholic Community Church.

Every year, Good Shepherd blesses the families we serve with these special baskets, and we’re happy to share that all—185 of them– were picked up just in time for Easter Sunday! Eleven baskets were also delivered to families in our Mentorship Housing Program.

This annual tradition has become a valued part of the Easter season here at GRACE. Our clients look forward to the fabulous and creative baskets year after year—many even begin asking about them well in advance as the holiday approaches.

Additionally, White’s Chapel Methodist Church planned an exciting Easter Egg Hunt for our families—rain or shine. Though chilly temperatures and steady rain limited the turnout, their generosity with well-crafted Easter baskets still made a meaningful impact. All of the treats and goodies were shared with families visiting GRACE throughout the week.

Last Saturday, about 150 clients came through the GRACE Food Pantry and were treated with a wonderful surprise. County Commissioner Alisa Simmons generously donated 500 dozen eggs to give away! Each family received two dozen eggs, and many clients—as well as some neighbors from next door—stopped by to pick some up. The remaining eggs were placed in the Food Pantry, helping GRACE continue to meet the needs of families in the coming weeks.

A very special thank-you to Commissioner Simmons for her incredible generosity and continued support of the GRACE community. Her kindness made a real difference and was truly appreciated by everyone who came through our doors.

The Easter season would not be the same at GRACE without the heart and service of Good Shepherd Catholic Community Church and White’s Chapel Methodist Church. Their continued support never fails to make an impact on the families we serve. It’s because of caring partners like them that GRACE can continue to share love, hope, and encouragement with our community.

In times of uncertainty, our first reaction is almost always fear, panic, and a rush to regain control. But what if you can’t regain control? What if all you can feel is fear? The client whose story we’re sharing with you this month would say – that’s where faith comes in.

A dear elderly woman on a fixed income recently came to GRACE in need of housing assistance. Her husband is bed-bound due to multiple conditions, and his consistent need for care mixed with her worry for him has made it difficult to leave him home by himself for any length of time. She also shared with her care manager her uneasiness about her general lack of alternative resources.

She came to GRACE hoping to receive any assistance in making her rental renewal fee. Her monthly income is only just over $1,000 and she had already made plans to seek further assistance from friends hoping to cover whatever amount that was left after coming to GRACE.

As the care manager expressed what GRACE could offer, the client burst into tears and shared that before coming to our office she prayed, and asked for God’s help while believing that He would provide, and He did.

She walked away with more than she was expecting and now has everything she needs to secure her household for the coming month.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or think…” Eph. 3:20 NLT