Grapevine Relief And Community Exchange

Organized in 1987, Grapevine Relief And Community Exchange (GRACE) is a Grapevine, Texas based relief agency which provides food, clothing, financial assistance, shelter and medical care. The impact of GRACE can be seen in the diabetic client who reversed his diagnosis through health education classes at the free GRACE Community Clinic, or the Mom who can provide new Christmas gifts to her children when she came to GRACE desperately focused on keeping the electricity from being shut off, or the young woman in Transitional Housing who enrolled in medical school and is starting her life again after fleeing domestic violence. GRACE is the place where people in need find kindness, compassion and hope to overcome their difficulties and begin again. In 2021, GRACE served over 12,000 unduplicated clients, many of who live paycheck to paycheck; working hourly jobs with few benefits, struggling to make a better life for their families.

GRACE will excel in providing emotional, spiritual, physical and financial assistance to needy indiv

Goal One: To ensure the availability of resources by developing a mutually beneficial partnership with major organizations with expertise outside of GRACE’s main focus.

Goal Two: To achieve a level of funding that is sustainable, diverse, and reflects sound fiscal stewardship.

Goal Three: To increase awareness and support of the GRACE’s mission and programs by improving community understanding of GRACE’s achievements, growth, needs, history, mission, goals, etc.

GRACE consistently invests in the leadership development and education of its staff. Whether a leadership course through local chambers of commerce, attendance at municipal government briefings and council meetings, participation in professional conferences. an opportunity for certification in a professional discipline or non-profit management, or any other opportunity to invest in staff that presents as beneficial to their position or future endeavors within the non-profit sector. After the opportunity has been assessed and approved by a direct supervisor, GRACE financially invests in order for the staff member to attend and scheduling adjustments are made so that the course can be completed without interruption.

In spring 2020, GRACE was ready to launch a capital campaign and appeal for assistance in building a new Donation Station. But, at the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, GRACE halted those efforts and turned the eyes of the community to the crisis faced by the thousands who all of sudden found their financial sources cut off by mandatory shut downs. Almost overnight, GRACE saw the requests for aid skyrocket to 6 times the usual amount for the same period from the previous year. In order to ensure that clients were able to receive uninterrupted access to GRACE programs and adhere to the new social distancing mandates, GRACE sent non-essential and non-program personnel to work from home. GRACE Client Service caseworkers took our client intake process online and worked long hours in order to manage the thousands of requests for aid coming into GRACE. Caseworkers eased clients mounting fears by providing a safety net of services including emergency assistance with rent/mortgage and utility payments and access to the GRACE Food Pantry. The GRACE Food Pantry shifted to drive-thru only service offering emergency food and supply boxes until restrictions eased. Once mandates began to lift, GRACE allowed client to resume visiting the Pantry in person. However, these visits were by appointment only in order to support social distancing. The GRACE Community Clinic transitioned completely to telehealth working with volunteer providers and translators ensuring that our patients, especially those with chronic conditions, received the care and medications necessary to manage their illnesses.