GRACE exists for the unexpected. Unfortunately, for many of our neighbors living paycheck to paycheck, they are just one sudden life event like an unexpected diagnosis or major repair away from financial hardship. In January, one of GRACE’s care managers met with a client who came seeking rental assistance. A recent diagnosis of cervical stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck leading to nerve pain) had been severe enough to require surgery, and his recovery was not going according to plan. His healing process was labored with extreme pain, preventing him from working for the span of three months. Unfortunately, this left his wife as the only source of income for the household, earning only $10 an hour. He expressed the stress and difficulty this placed on their family as she worked, took care of him, and looked after their four children during his slow journey to

Welcome Deb Ebeling, GRACE’s new Volunteer and Seasonal Programs Coordinator! GRACE is thrilled to announce that Deb Ebeling has taken on a new role at GRACE: Volunteer and Seasonal Programs Coordinator! Deb will play a vital role in coordinating all volunteer activities for GRACE, including the GRACE Feed Our Kids program and the beloved GRACE Christmas Cottage. Deb’s connection to GRACE began in November 2023, when she started volunteering several times a week in the Food Pantry. “I quickly learned about Christmas Cottage and found myself there almost daily,” Deb shared. “I loved both experiences!” Growing up, Deb dreamed of becoming a mom and a lawyer. After considering the time and cost of law school, she earned her paralegal certificate, married, and joyfully embraced motherhood. “I don’t think I could have imagined what God had in store for me!” she reflected. Describing herself as outgoing, kind, and blessed, Deb’s passion

GRACE’s new online volunteer hub is LIVE! Late last year, we partnered with VOLY, a comprehensive volunteer management platform, to create a dedicated website designed to streamline the volunteer experience. Our goal: a one-stop shop where volunteers can easily submit applications, explore opportunities, and track their valuable hours. After months of hard work and fine-tuning, our new website is up and running! We are committed to ensuring the site is accessible and user-friendly for everyone. If you have not already joined us on VOLY, we encourage you to sign up today—we’ll be there to guide you through the process! GRACE deeply values our volunteers. Your contributions are essential to our mission of serving individuals and families in our community. From sorting donations at Donation Station and stocking shelves at the pantry, to assisting our master gardeners in the community garden and keeping our GRACEful Buys stores in Grapevine and Euless

Get ready to ante up for GRACE! The 7th Annual GRACE Poker Tournament is almost here, and we’re thrilled to spotlight the incredible community partners who are making this event possible! A huge round of applause to our King of Hearts sponsor, BoomerJack’s! A longtime GRACE supporter, BoomerJack’s has been a Metroplex favorite since 2002, serving up everything from mouthwatering burgers and crispy wings to fresh salads. Their generous support has consistently benefited GRACE, and we couldn’t be more grateful! Learn more about BoomerJack’s at https://boomerjacks.com/. We also extend our deepest gratitude to the Joanne E. “Jody” Matthews Estate, and executor Melissa Moss, for their generous King of Hearts sponsorship! Thank you to Laura and Johnny Campanello, our Jack of Clubs sponsor, for their continued and generous support of GRACE! This year’s dinner is going to be a culinary delight, thanks to our fantastic dinner sponsor, Ferah Tex Med Kitchen!

The resilience shown by the graduates celebrated at this year’s Mentorship Housing Graduation goes beyond just their time at GRACE. As you will read below, so many have not just preserved, but have overcome. As you read through the achievements of each of the graduates, take time to reflect on the impact that your partnership with GRACE has had. Your impact goes beyond this handful of highlighted lives to the stories of thousands of our neighbors who just needed that moment of empowerment. They were met with a kind community who encouraged them, and with their support allowed GRACE to show them a path out of crisis and into accomplishment. Scott: ·         Promoted at his job from temp security guard to a permanent executive position ·         Stopped smoking one month after entering the program ·         1st time college student Jasmine: ·         Paralegal degree completion in March ·         Prepping for ASVAB to enter the Air Force

I am in tears right now as I write this. This morning, I had the incredible opportunity to select items for my daughters from the Christmas Cottage, and the experience was absolutely amazing. There were so many wonderful items to choose from, and I know my girls will absolutely love them. I have never been in a situation like this before, unable to provide gifts for my girls for Christmas, so this moment means more to me than words can express. I truly wanted to take a moment to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your help and support. Thank you for being a blessing in our lives. Sincerely, Ms. Grace* 2024 was particularly devastating for Ms. Grace and was filled with unimaginable loss with the murder of her brother and the passing of her grandmother. As she was living with her grandmother and depending on

Due to continued inclement weather conditions, all GRACE locations will remain CLOSED on Friday, January 10th. Assistance will be provided at the Client Services building Saturday, January 11th between 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. to accommodate for closures. To stay up to date on all future changes, please visit our social media pages. Updates will be posted on our Facebook and Instagram. For emergency assistance or food, please call 817.602.1204. Thank you for your patience, and we are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Stay safe and warm!

The Programs team at Grapevine Relief And Community Exchange (GRACE) include Client Services care managers who are the gatekeepers of GRACE, the manager and assistant manager of the Food Pantry, Community Clinic staff, our senior services program Friends & Family manager, and Mentorship Housing staff. Together, this team has provided a record number of services to our community during this holiday season and we would like to share the November numbers with you.   Client Services: A Focus on Offering Stability GRACE’s Client Services care managers conducted 1,032 household interviews, representing 3,675 individuals. The team provided crucial support, including rent and utility payments, and transportation-related services. Our care manager’s also coordinated with city, law, and school district officials to step into the households of 13 families experiencing exceptional crisis in order to see them securely housed, connected with the continuum of care offered by GRACE programs, and avoid ongoing homelessness.

As we near the end of 2024, we are already looking ahead to all the wonderful things in store for 2025! Each year, GRACE hosts three amazing events to help support the many programs and services provided to the community. The first of which is the annual Poker Tournament! On Saturday, February 1st, the 7th annual Poker Tournament will be held once more at Park Place Land Rover DFW, located in Grapevine at 1300 E State Hwy 114, Dallas, TX 75261. Complete with poker, delicious bites and drinks, awesome swag items, door prizes and more, this evening is a great way to support GRACE while also enjoying a night out! There are a number of ways to be involved with this great event, so read on to learn more! First, as with any event, it would not be possible without the support of our amazing sponsors. There are multiple sponsorship

Due to the holidays, GRACE locations will be operating under adjusted hours. If you have an emergency that cannot wait until normal operating hours, please contact Client Services at 817-602-1204. Warm wishes and happy holidays from the GRACE Family to yours!   GRACEful Buys Grapevine and Euless: December 19: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. December 23-25: CLOSED New Years Day: 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.   Client Services: December 20: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. December 23-27: CLOSED December 31: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. New Years Day: CLOSED January 2: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.   Programs, Development, and Administrative Offices: December 20: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. December 23-27: CLOSED December 31: 9:00 – 3:00 p.m. New Years Day: CLOSED January 2: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.   Donation Station: December 19: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. December 23-25: CLOSED New Years Day: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.