GRACE welcome’s new Assistant to the CEO, Bethany Hardikar! Born in Spring, TX, Bethany has always been very organized in everything that she pursues. That would explain her previous roles working for an academic library and professional organizing. In March Bethany started working for GRACE, taking over for Melissa Simpkins. Bethany attributes Melissa to the easy adjustment, saying that “the transfer would have been much more difficult if Melissa hadn’t come in practically every day and answered every question that I had. Yes, there’s a lot of work, but I have a blast working here.” Bethany is well-known for her positive attitude among her colleagues. She is always cheery and eager to assist anyone at any moment, even when she is busy with work and meetings. Kickboxing, hiking, and rock climbing are some of Bethany’s pastimes. She routinely attends classes at iLoveKickboxing in Bedford and Summit Climbing Gyms in Grapevine

Here at GRACE, we have always had some of the best supporters. Our supporters from past and present are always willing to go above and beyond to help our clients reach their goal of self-sufficiency. For this and more we want to express our gratitude for their outstanding contributions to this wonderful community. Carla Murray-Wolfe was a lively and kind person who always desired to unite everyone for a greater purpose. She was a fervent supporter of GRACE, as was her husband Bill. Monetary donations to GRACE’s programs and donations to Donation Station made up the majority of their charitable contributions. Earlier this year, Carla suddenly passed away from a stroke. Even though it was difficult for her friends and family to say goodbye, they never forgot the love she spread and the idea that we are all in this together for a better cause. “Carla was a cheerful person

As the GRACE Grocery Giveaway (GGG) and Feed Our Kids programs come to an end, we would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to everyone who contributed to the success of this summer. Many kids were fed and families were satisfied thanks to you. This summer brought a lot of heat to Texas. Three days in a row saw highs of 108 degrees, in addition to numerous days that were over 100 degrees with little to no rain. This made certain days quite difficult for everyone working at the six sites. However, both staff members and volunteers stepped up to help the children and families in the community. The Feed Our Kids and GGG programs came to life in the eyes of our community thanks in large part to the contributions of volunteers. Making sure that everyone received what they needed, preparing meals for kids and families,

GRACE would like to welcome our new Special Events Manager, Basha Ramsey. Growing up in Dayton, Ohio, Basha has always been a dedicated leader who strives for excellence. This is shown by the fact that she was a four-year starter and captain of her collegiate basketball team. She is no stranger to the idea that it takes a team to accomplish anything, even as she led her squad to numerous wins along the way. Before taking on her role at GRACE, Basha was a Business Development Representative for Carrier Enterprise in Carrollton, TX. There she was responsible for generating new business opportunities for potential partners and organizations. Basha began working for GRACE back in April, and after less than a month on the job, she was immediately put to the test. Assisting with both GRACE’s Designer Bags and Bingo and Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, she got quite active by taking on

The polls are in and 2022 Best of Northeast Tarrant County Readers’ Winner is…. GRACEful Buys resale store! Each year, online voting is conducted on behalf of all of the Living Magazine communities to determine the best businesses in the community. Since its conception, GRACEful Buys has won the Readers’ Choice award numerous times and we are incredibly thankful to receive this award for another year. GRACEful Buys is our upscale restore whose proceeds benefit those in need through GRACE programs. GRACEful Buys carries a variety of high-quality items, including clothes and shoes for the family, housewares, home décor, furniture, linens, seasonal, toys, books, jewelry and accessories. All of our merchandise is carefully chosen for quality and is priced below retail. With more than 9,000 items received each week, each day is a new shopping experience. GRACE’s Director of Operations and Resale, Jennifer Rawls, understands that this award is because of the GRACE volunteers, staff,

As the long summer nights wind down and the schools start opening their doors, most parents are experiencing a bitter-sweet combination of emotions. For a child, the possibilities are endless when the school year begins. From discovering who the teacher will be to what friends are in their class, the days leading up to it are full of anticipation. It is also, however, a tough time for parents who are doing all they can to make sure their families’ needs are met on a regular basis. Buying school supplies, backpacks, and back to school clothing is a difficult and costly expense to a family who is already struggling. That is where GRACE steps in. With the support of the community through donations and volunteer hours, GRACE is able to assist with back to school clothes (including new underwear and socks), school supplies and backpacks. The look of excitement on the

This week, six women crossed the stage to receive their certificate of completion for the GRACE Transitional Housing program and it was nothing short of excellence. Hosted at the Vine Arts & Events Center in Grapevine once again, the Transitional Housing graduation was one for the books. These amazing women have been embarking on a life-altering journey for two years, and with the support of our wonderful community, they can achieve their goals of becoming self-sufficient. Every supporter, volunteer, and graduate was warmly welcomed by GRACE’s Chief Executive Officer, Shonda Schaefer, to another successful year of the Transitional Housing graduation. She noted that every graduate on stage had put in countless hours of hard work to pursue a new and improved life for themselves and their families. Rev. Sterling Smith, Pastor of White’s Chapel United Methodist Church, offered the invocation, while GRACE Board President, Traci Bernard, touched on great achievements

We would like to acknowledge Classic Chevrolet Fleet & Commercial, our cherished partnership and presenting sponsor, as we prepare for the upcoming GRACE Gala. For 14 years, Classic has been the presenting sponsor of the GRACE Gala. Their efforts to promote charity and community involvement have become a motivating factor for many individuals and organizations in the community. The Classic Charity Golf Tournament was held the last year, with the proceeds going to local charities like GRACE. The success of this competition allowed Classic Chevrolet to donate $47,000 to GRACE in support of our programs. Beyond being contented members of the dealership team, Classic Chevrolet’s employees have taken on tasks that go far beyond that. They have made an effort to contribute back to the community, by hosting annual luncheons, runs, and other events to help raise money for nonprofits and their efforts. GRACE has been blessed to partner with

You are cordially invited to help us kickoff to Gala season at our GRACE Gala Gifting Party. The Gifting Party helps to spread the word around the community about the GRACE Gala and the auction, all of which are fun for everyone who participates. We are incredibly thrilled to be hosting this well-liked event again this year, making it even bigger and better than before, and what better way to do so than to hold it at Crush It! Sports Lounge right here in Grapevine. Basha Ramsey, GRACE’s Special Events Manager, predicts that this year’s Gifting Party will be a successful night. “While we continue to work on the Gala, the GRACE Gala committee and especially the Auction Subcommittee, have done an excellent job preparing for the returning Gifting Party and I can guarantee that this will be an outstanding time. We are so excited.” On Wednesday, August 31st, from 5:30 pm to

This summer, The British Emporium put on a tasteful celebration of The Queen’s remarkable 70 years of service for those who couldn’t quite make it to London. Guests were able to participate in a variety of activities, such as “A Taste of Britain”, ‘Meet a Brit’, and U.K Author book signings. To top off the festivities, The British Emporium offered raffle tickets to win the rare Barbie Signature Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Doll, fit with a luxurious gown, accessories and all. All proceeds from the raffle were generously donated to GRACE, and it was a huge success! The funds raised by the limited edition collectors item will directly help clients involved in GRACE programs, and the winner could not have been more excited to accept the regal doll. We are so grateful for The British Emporium’s support and belief in what we do at GRACE. Donations of every size and