Over the years, our wonderful community has found many different ways to give back to GRACE and its programs. From 5k runs, to special projects, and honorary awards, these are some of the few ways our community gives back. We want to take this time to shout out a very special individual who goes all out each year for GRACE, and we can’t thank them enough. In 2020, Chick-Fil-A franchise owner, Louie Murillo bought a bulk of decorative Santa Claus garden gnomes to complete his family Christmas card pictures. He realized that he had more than he expected and soon turned his yard into a complete Santa Wonderland, with over 1,000 Santas in the front yard. While preparing for that year’s Christmas, he realized how many individuals and families were struggling throughout the entirety of that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so he decided to partner with GRACE to

This week, the GRACE Christmas Cottage was thrilled to receive a generous donation of over 800 books! These wonderful, brand-new books range from picture books to chapter books and literary classics that kids of all ages will enjoy this holiday and for years to come. In the past, the Christmas Cottage has had limited book availability for families, but because of generous donations this year, each child will have the opportunity to wake up Christmas morning with up to three of their very own books. In today’s marketplace, the cost of most books is the hourly wage of many jobs. GRACE Christmas Cottage is excited to be able to provide the opportunity for parents to shop in an amazing room full of books without cost to them. GRACE is thrilled to give parents the opportunities to create memories with their children. This could include having new books to read at

You are cordially invited to attend the Christmas Cottage Open House on Tuesday, December 6th at 2550 SW Grapevine Pkwy, Grapevine, TX! Kids’ time will begin at 4:30, and all ages are welcome to join at 5:30. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served, so grab a friend and enjoy a relaxed evening celebrating all the hard work that will make this season bright for our GRACE families! For those who haven’t experienced the magic of Christmas Cottage in the community, Christmas Cottage is a GRACE program that alleviates the financial burden of Christmas gifts during their season of hardship. Each qualified family is given a hypothetical “budget” that allows the parents to “purchase” donated toys, home goods, and appliances in a private, store-like setting. This unique approach allows families to budget their resources and select unique presents while preserving the family’s dignity. Just under 3,000 individuals and families are

The holiday season is finally upon us, and what better way to show Santa how good you’ve been this year than to volunteer at GRACE? A community favorite that is right around the corner is GRACE’s annual Christmas Cottage Open House! This year, all things ~Cottage~ will be led by our spirited seasonal coordinator, Beth Chernik. Volunteers are always needed for the Christmas Cottage. Our volunteers are always helping operations run smoothly and making our families feel comfortable. Whether it’s restocking the toy shelves or loading presents into vehicles, there is a place for you to volunteer during GRACE’s annual Christmas Cottage. For more information, visit our website or contact Beth Chernik at bchernik@gracegrapevine.org. Another popular way to get involved is through our Donation Station. This is the hub of operations for all donations from the community. All items are then processed and sorted to provide shoppers with a clean,

Those who have gone through any GRACE program understand how impactful it is, and in turn, many have given back to GRACE and its mission through donating, volunteering, or even simple acts of kindness to the community. This week, GRACE client turned chef, Corlisa Booker gave back to GRACE in the most delightful way possible. Chef Corlisa is a soon-to-be proud graduate of the GRACE Transitional Housing (T.H.) program. Along with raising her son, Sebastian, she also dedicates many hours to perfecting her dream of owning a commercial food truck. Since being a part of the T.H. program life has treated Corlisa and her family wonderfully. She has become a strong advocate for GRACE and its programs. She attended the 2022 Transitional Housing Graduation and this year’s GRACE Gala. Corlisa and Sebastian also headlined the GRACE Christmas Cottage promo where Corlisa expressed her joy in knowing that “through the Christmas

ReelOutreach is an organization created by Jordan Maison that raises money and hosts special movie events for kids and families who don’t normally get the chance to head to the theater. On top of taking them to see the latest blockbuster films, they also provide concessions and toys/goodie bags for the kids to take home. On November 21st, several of the GRACE Transitional Housing families and their kids were able to experience a special screening of Disney’s new animated film, Strange World. Each child was given a movie poster, gift cards to the concession stands, and backpacks. Jordan Maison started ReelOutreach back in 2018, and the goal has remained the same: bring the joy of movies to those who need it most.  Having grown up with very little, a trip to the movie theater was a yearly event if that. Jordan’s family didn’t get to go often, but every time

Consider Choosing GRACE on November 29th for Giving Tuesday! Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. It strives to build a world in which the catalytic power of generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity, and equity around the globe. GRACE has joined in with the Giving Tuesday movement since its inception in 2012. And now, 10 years later, donors have generously supported us during this special day dedicated to generosity. People show their generosity in a variety of ways during Giving Tuesday — whether it’s helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill, or giving to causes, every act of generosity counts. Here at GRACE, we are so very thankful that you, members of the GRACE Family, are such incredible givers. Because of your support, you have

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, GRACE offices have adjusted operating hours: GRACEful Buys Grapevine and Euless will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and reopen for Black Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Donation Station will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and resume normal hours on Friday, November 25th. GRACE Programs, Development, and Administrative offices will close at 3 p.m. on November 23rd, and reopen on Monday, November 28th. If you need emergency assistance that cannot wait until normal operating hours, please contact client services at 817.602.1204. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

December 3rd is the Elves on the Run 5k and Fun Run! Do not be a Grinch and miss out. Organized by the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce Women’s Division, this awesome family friendly event will be sure to help you kick off the holiday season! Come join the fun that includes photos with Santa & the Grinch, a team costume contest, dog costume contest, inflatable obstacle course, Christmas tattoo station, elf toss game, and tons of prizes! Elf Costume and Pet Costume contest begins at 8:30 am, Fun run begins at 9:00 am and the 5k begins at 9:30 am. Come for the run, stay to enjoy all the activities Grapevine has to offer including ICE at the Gaylord, Snow-land at Great Wolf Lodge, North Pole Express train ride, North Central Ballet Company’s Nutcracker on Lake Grapevine and the not-to-be-missed sparkle of Main Street with millions of lights, enormous decorations,

This week, families around the community were greeted with warm smiles and delicious food during GRACE’s annual Holiday Food Distribution. GRACE’s Holiday Food Distribution serves around 800 families during the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Clients are encouraged to take part in this special event by speaking with one of GRACE’s wonderful Caseworkers, where they will receive a voucher and more information about this special event. This week would not have been possible without the incredible help of our loving volunteers. From standing in 40-degree weather for hours at a time making sure each client left with a smile on their face, these amazing volunteers served with a purpose. “I am so thankful that we have volunteers who will always help out when needed to make a difference in the community,” said, Volunteer Manager, Ryan Jackson. “This week during Holiday Food Distribution showed exactly why GRACE has some of the