NEWSLETTER

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To find news articles published prior to January 2016, please visit our archive site here.

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Join “24 Hours of GRACE” on March 26

Tuesday, March 26, our “24 Hours of GRACE” will ask you to help us help those in need. This “24 Hours of GRACE” is your chance to do the very most good for the people GRACE serves.

Past donors to our “24 Hours of GRACE” campaigns have funded GRACE Hunger Services, Housing Services, Health Services, Emergency Services, Senior Services, and Children’s Services—our entire Continuum of Care.

“24 Hours” gifts have helped GRACE broaden services, and develop new ways to help those in need. These gifts gave hope to many who had no where else to turn. “24 Hours” gifts in March 2020, helped us survive the terrifying times during the start of the pandemic.

Since we began “24 Hours of GRACE” in 2013, these gifts have touched the lives of so many families in so many ways.

“24 Hours” gifts have never been needed more than this year—“24 Hours in ‘24”. Please give. Your gift will be put to immediate use helping those waiting in line every morning before we open.

The number of people coming to GRACE is climbing—nearly back to COVID levels!

Only the massive numbers of people seen during the COVID years of 2020 and 2021 top the count from this past fiscal year.

Even greater is the need for the services in our Continuum of Care.

This past year we provided 104,621 service units—even higher than those seen during the worst of the pandemic.

A “service unit” is one Food Pantry visit, or one Community Clinic treatment, one clothing voucher, one rent or utility payment, and each one of the other services in our Continuum of Care—104,621 times.

The returning upsurge of need is alarming. Fewer people requiring more services mean deeper, longer-lasting personal and financial crises, and needing a greater amount of services.

Please consider a gift to “24 Hours in ‘24”. Your gift will support our entire Continuum of Care so everyone can be served and no one is left out.

The number of people in need is climbing again. Last year we saw 10,301 unduplicated clients come to GRACE, a 46.9% increase over the previous year.

Here are some other comparisons (FY23 vs. FY22):

Last year, 739 clinics were conducted at the GRACE Community Clinic—11.6% increase over the previous year.

34,265 lunches were served to children during GRACE Feed Our Kids program—12.9% increase.

3,394 people were helped through the GRACE Christmas Cottage—16.4% increase.

2,086 children received clothing packets from the GRACE Clothing Room—27.6% increase.

1,515 families were added as new clients to GRACE Client Services—37.1% increase.

11,129 clients visited the GRACE Food Pantry—58.4% increase.

Even now, six months into the 2024 Fiscal Year, the number of people seeking help are running at crisis levels, and needing more services.

If you’ve recently made a gift to GRACE, maybe during the holidays, thank you!

If you can, please consider another gift to help us at this time.

Hunger is daily. Housing is monthly. Health crises can happen anytime. Emergencies happen when least expected. Your gift during “24 Hours of GRACE” will come at a time when donations are low and the need is greatest.

Please consider a recurring gift!

Your recurring gifts form a stable source of support. They guide our budgeting for services. A promise of funding-to-come allows us to anticipate the needs of those coming to GRACE, and anticipate future costs.

We also ask you to spread the word about “24 Hours of GRACE”. This year’s “24 Hours in ‘24” may be the most important online campaign we have mounted to date. Let others know you support GRACE, and how they can too!

On the Monday before, you will receive a message from our Chief Executive Officer, Rebecca Cox. She will ask you to make a pledge—to help us help those in need.

New people are coming to GRACE at the same rate as during the pandemic. It’s difficult for many to see an end to their struggle. Many are discouraged by endless financial problems, homelessness, ongoing health crises, or other devastating issues.

Many lack the confidence to overcome these difficulties.

With your help, GRACE will continue to serve, taking on each families’ struggles one-by-one, and assuring each their troubles will ultimately end, and they will be stronger and more self-reliant because of their valiant fight.

But only with your help.

Your gift of $500 or more annually, one time or total recurring, gives us a chance to thank you and declare your generosity to the rest of the community: we will deliver a “Choose GRACE” sign suitable for mounting in your front lawn.

Your “Choose GRACE” sign will let everyone know you have made a gift to secure the future of our community.

So many families need your help now more than ever—your generous gift will help them finally look forward to a secure, healthy, and stable future.

“24 Hours of GRACE” only comes once a year. Please make “24 Hours in ‘24” count with a gift to help GRACE help those in need.

Domestic Violence Survivor Finds Safety Through GRACE

It is truly the fact that such a supportive community surrounds GRACE that we are able to step into the story of our clients at their most vulnerable, and empower them through compassionate assistance and hopeful guidance. Our story from February is of a woman who came to GRACE looking for just this type of empowerment.

She and her husband moved to Texas looking to begin again now that all of their children were adults. Her hope was that the abuse would end with the change of circumstances, but this hope was quickly dashed after another physical altercation occurred after only a short time in our state. She finally decided to walk away from the abuse, and her marriage, of over 25 years.

Due to her spouse’s controlling nature, she was unable to develop relationships or generate resources for herself. She had to summon all of her courage to walk away because not only did she walk away; she was walking away with nothing.

Then she found GRACE.

Upon coming to GRACE, she connected with one of our Care Managers who immediately saw the need and linked her with our partner One Safe Place, who promptly assessed her situation and prepared a path to safety for her that same day. GRACE assisted as she began her journey by providing an overnight stay for her and a family member who came to support her life-changing choice, as well as enough resources to provide gas and food to get her to her chosen final destination.

GRACE is thrilled to report that she has since called to inform us that she made it safely, and has even begun a new job! She also shared with her Care Manager how thankful she was for GRACE. She was alone and had lost all hope, until she found GRACE.

This account is not unique to the GRACE story. Even though we are not a domestic violence service agency, we often identify and support individuals reaching out to us for help as they seek safety for themselves, and their children.

GRACE care managers never know the stories that will walk into their offices day to day, but knowing that they have the support of a generous community, partner agencies who hold special expertise, and seasoned leadership gives them the tools necessary to inspire confidence in our clients as they begin their journey towards self-sufficiency…whatever that journey may looks like.

If you are someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out to GRACE staff or call our partner agency One Safe Place directly at 817-916-4323 to get help.

Announcing the 21st Annual GRACE Gala Co-Chairs

Exciting news for the 2024 GRACE Gala! It will be coming back home in Grapevine for its 21st year. The “angels among us” Gala will be on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. Equally as exciting is that this year’s chairs are Theresa and Justin Mason.

“This year is going to be very special,” says Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Cox. “We are honored and excited to bring the GRACE Gala home to Grapevine. I am especially excited to be working with our 2024 Chairs, Theresa and Justin Mason.”

Theresa and Justin Mason are no strangers to the Grapevine community as they have lived and worked in Grapevine since 2012. Theresa has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2004 and has started, sold and continues to run multiple businesses including two painting companies, a non-profit, a real estate business, music company and private Montessori style school. Justin Mason grew up listening to a variety of music genres but was always partial to country music. In 2013, he taught himself how to play guitar and put a band together. Over the last 10 years, he has released multiple albums, played many notable venues and enjoys singing and playing country music around the area.

The Masons began a real estate brokerage firm in 2012 and merged their company with Magnolia Realty, founded by Chip and Joanna Gaines, in 2022. In 2021, Justin and Theresa co-founded (along with another couple) a small private school in Grapevine and are in their third year of operation. Vine Academy: An Acton Affiliate is a Montessori style school, equipping young Learners to discover God’s calling for their lives that will change the world.

The Masons are the proud parents of three amazing children ages 9, 7, and 6 are active in their church, St. Francis of Assisi Grapevine, and in the Grapevine community. Theresa served as the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce in 2018, served as an alternate member of the City of Grapevine’s Planning and Zoning Commission from 2013-2017, and is an active member of the Women’s Division of the Grapevine Chamber. Justin has had the opportunity to play multiple times at the Grapevine festivals, and has donated his time and talents at many charity events and GRACE fundraisers.

“We feel blessed to live such a fulfilling life, “says Theresa Mason, GRACE Gala Co-Chair. “Both Justin and I love Grapevine and are longtime supporters of GRACE, volunteer as a family where we can, and are honored to be co-chairs of the 2024 GRACE Gala”.

For more information and to find out how you can get involved, contact events@gracegrapevine.org.

GRACE CEO Reports ‘State of GRACE’ to Grapevine City Council

The City of Grapevine is GRACE’s home. It is vibrant, growing, unique, and thriving. But if there is one quality the GRACE staff is thankful for above all others, it’s that the staff, elected officials, and leadership committees of the city strive to remain aware of all the facets of their city.

The City of Grapevine has been an ally of GRACE since its founding. We have partnered together for decades to provide a safety net of support and resources designed to assure that the residents of Grapevine and the service industry workers that make this city the destination it is are being well cared for.

At the February 6th City Council meeting, GRACE CEO, Rebecca Cox gave city officials a ‘State of GRACE’ update ahead of the release of the funds already approved by the council to support GRACE programs and services. Here are the highlights presented to City Council:

·         10,301 unduplicated individuals from 3,789 unique households received services

·         3,780 individuals (including 2,067 children) received gifts at the GRACE Christmas Cottage

·         739 four-hour clinics were held by volunteer providers at the GRACE Community Clinic

·         5,601 visits were made by patients to the GRACE Community Clinic

·         4,717 people were nourished by the summer GRACE Grocery Giveaway program

·         11,129 shoppers visited the GRACE Food Pantry

·         34,265 lunches were enjoyed by children during our summer lunch program, GRACE Feed Our Kids

·         102,586 service units were provided to GRACE clients in the 2023 fiscal year

Thank you to the City of Grapevine for your decades of partnership through both financial and volunteer support. GRACE looks forward to continued collaboration as we work to keep Grapevine thriving as both a unique destination and a vibrant community.

Successful Kickoff of First Discover GRACE Session!

Tuesday, February 13th marked the first official Discover GRACE! We’ve been looking forward to this event, and are looking forward to many more. If you haven’t heard of Discover GRACE, let us tell you what it’s all about!

The goal is simple: We want to share our mission and stories with our community, and to hear from them their ideas and history with GRACE in return!

Formerly known as our Volunteer Orientation, Discover GRACE is opening our doors and inviting in the community— not just volunteers— to a behind the scenes look at the work GRACE staff does— and how you play an indispensable role in all that is accomplished.

Here, guests will learn about GRACE’s mission and history, hear from GRACE staff about the work they do, experience a tour of GRACE Main, then regroup in the community room for questions, ideas, and if guests are interested, filling out a volunteer application!

And that is exactly what happened! Guests got to hear from Rebecca Cox (GRACE Chief Executive Officer), Jamé Scott (Director of Intake and Client Services), Shirley Roberts (Clinic Nurse Manager), and Kristal Gonzalez (Pantry Assistant Manager) about the work they do and the critical role GRACE volunteers play in helping them carry out this work.

Following the presentation, the group took a tour of “GRACE Main” which includes the Administration building, Client Services, the GRACE Food Pantry, Community Garden, and our Take One, Leave One (TOLO) box. This time around we were unable to tour the clinic, as they had an event (if that isn’t a testament to the love and dedication GRACE staff and volunteers put into our community, we don’t know what is). But be on the lookout for our upcoming Discover GRACE’s where we’ll take a tour of our Community Clinic!

Following the tour, the group headed back to Community Room B for an open forum. This part of the night is what Discover GRACE is all about— because discovery can’t occur if we aren’t asking questions and sharing ideas!

As the night came to a close, some guests filled out volunteer applications, some stayed to talk with Kristal, and some asked questions. For example, one guest (turned GRACE volunteer) asked how they could stay up-to-date on our biggest needs. We explained that for those interested in making a donation, they can check out our website, (located here).

But it got us thinking, “How can we keep our volunteers up-to-date on our biggest needs?” and now, we’ve linked our biggest needs on our Signup Genius, so volunteers can stay up-to date!

A minor change, but all that is to say that the questions asked and ideas shared here go a long way!

Thank you to everyone who came to the first Discover GRACE! We had a wonderful time sharing the love we have for GRACE with all of you, and are looking forward to many more! If you’re interested in attending, please register through this link here. For any questions, contact the GRACE Volunteer Coordinator at Volunteer@GRACEGrapevine.org

Inspired by GRACE – Getting to Know Rebecca Cox

“I always loved GRACE from afar from what I knew of the agency,” said Rebecca Cox, GRACE Chief Executive Officer, reflecting on her first days with GRACE.

Now, looking back on the first 90 days of her tenure, she concludes, “But now I truly understand the depth of feeling, the dedication of every person involved with GRACE, and the utterly inspiring feeling I get serving this mission. And that feeling grows day-by-day.”

Literally, Rebecca’s “Day 1” duty was to preside over the grand opening of GRACE’s Christmas Cottage on December 4. A whirlwind of a joyous Christmas Season and Year End activities followed.

“[Christmastime] was a season both of need and of giving,” said Rebecca. GRACE Hunger Services, Housing Services, and Children’s Services all posted record numbers served. Fortunately, the generosity of people in the community kept pace.

“We had churches, businesses, and schools holding food drives all month long,” she said. “Just when the Food Pantry shelves were getting bare, a food drive sponsor would arrive and save the day.”

Rebecca said she witnessed much the same situation with donors bringing toys and other gifts to Christmas Cottage. “I’ve been constantly amazed by the strong and immediate connection between our donors and those we serve.”

Referencing the volunteers who manage Christmas Cottage activities, Rebecca said, “I’ve seen our ‘Christmas Cottage Elves’ accept donations at the drive-through drop-off; immediately process and stock [the gifts]; and the very same toys go home with our clients within the hour.”

Rebecca said she was also very grateful to donors who made monetary gifts over the holidays.

“Rent, utilities, and other emergency assistance peaks at the holidays,” she said. “We had people waiting in line outside every morning before Client Services opened. Our donors touched the lives of so many families. They made Christmas merrier for thousands.”

For Rebecca, the highlights of her first three months included meeting donors and volunteers, many for the first time, and getting to know the members of her staff.

“It’s an honor to serve beside so many dedicated people on a mission as life-changing as GRACE,” said Rebecca. “I am proud to introduce myself as being even a small part of the larger GRACE mission.”

Yet, learning the more operational aspects of GRACE, like finding where the reams of copy paper can be found, can be tiring. Still, even these everyday tasks are well-suited to Rebecca’s outlook on life.

“I often refer to Galatians 6:9, ‘Let us not be weary in doing good’,” she said. “It had become my life verse, and it guides me in every challenge.”

“Doing good” comes naturally to Rebecca. She found her calling early in life at Fort Worth’s Presbyterian Night Shelter and has stayed true to her mission to serve others for the 20 plus years that followed.

Rebecca’s character has been formed by serving those facing poverty and homelessness. Her dedication to serving those in need include mounting initiatives to improve systems of care such as city wide planning for homeless services, housing programs, community clinics and mental healthcare facilities.

Her unique mix of experiences with social services, housing and medical care programming is perfectly suited to overseeing the vast continuum of care offered at GRACE.

“My passion always has been, and always will be empowering those who are struggling in need and to see them not only survive, but thrive,” she said.