Gifts to “24 Hours of GRACE” have funded GRACE Emergency Services, the Community Clinic, Food Pantry and Gardens, Transitional Housing, Senior Services, and Children’s Services.
Last year, the GRACE response to the COVID 19 pandemic was supported by “24 Hours of GRACE”. Our year ended with just over 11,000 unduplicated clients. After this massive inflow of new clients caused by the shutdowns, cutbacks, furloughs, and layoffs, GRACE estimated the number of clients seeking assistance would decline and stabilize. Yet, the following 12 months saw 12,300 unduplicated clients come to GRACE. The carry-over effect from the pandemic seemed to be a combination of slow recovery in the Grapevine-centric hospitality industry, deteriorating economic conditions nationally, and the fears of escalating global conflict.
Even now with the pandemic “over” the numbers of people seeking relief are running at crisis levels, and continuing an upward trend. Next Tuesday, March 22, our “24 Hours of GRACE” will ask you to help us provide assistance to those seeking our help.
Recurring gifts are the lifeblood of GRACE. Your recurring gifts form a stable source of support. They guide our budgeting for services and programs. Next Tuesday, we are asking you for a recurring gift to support our future planning. A promise of funding-to-come allows us to anticipate the needs of our clients, and project future costs. This “24 Hours of GRACE” is your chance to do the very most good for the people GRACE serves.
We also ask you to spread the word about “24 Hours of GRACE” and the significance of recurring gifts. As last year passed, more and more donors came forward with recurring gifts: weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, even quarterly. Recurring gifts were donations we could count on each month. Our monthly budget always started with a promise of recurring gifts as we tried to stay ahead of the pandemic and keep our clients, volunteers, and staff safe. A promise from you to support GRACE with a recurring gift elevates the capacity of GRACE to serve, and helps us plan months down the road. A gift monthly or every two weeks provides stability, and strengthens our ability to anticipate the future needs of our clients.
This year’s annual “24 Hours of GRACE” may be the most important online campaign we have mounted to date. This coming Tuesday, instead of a one-time gift for a specific program, please consider giving to GRACE throughout the year.
On Monday, you will receive a message from our Chief Executive Officer, Shonda Schaefer. She will ask you to make a pledge—a vow to give on recurring basis. Then, monthly, every two weeks, or any interval you choose for the next year, your gifts will help the GRACE mission serve those struggling with the pandemic, or its prolonged aftermath.
As catastrophic as the past two years have been, this year is proving to be just as fearful. New clients coming to GRACE are trending at the same enormous rate as last year—more than double our regular caseload. Twice as much food is needed at the Food Pantry. Twice as many patients are coming to the Community Clinic. Twice as many seniors need food, support, care, and reassurance. Twice as many children are being served by Feed Our Kids and Christmas Cottage programs.
It’s hard for many of our clients to keep the end goal in sight. Many are disheartened by endless conflicts, controversy, and ongoing health scares. So many lack the confidence that they can overcome these difficulties. GRACE will continue to serve day-in and day-out. 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 recurring gift of $500 or more annually, 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 GRACE. GRACE needs your help now more than ever—your generous recurring gift will help GRACE and our community finally put this crisis behind us, and look forward to a secure, healthy, and stable future.
