Our mission is intersecting faith and community to empower
Grayson County families to end child homelessness.
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Message from our Executive Director |
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As 2020 winds down, it would be easy to focus on the chaos of the past year. There’s no denying it has been a year of challenges. I do not want to lose sight of all the good that has happened, though!
Together we have served six families, including 8 adults and 14 children, as guests in our Interfaith Hospitality Network. The most recent guests are graduating from the program today, so their daughter’s first Christmas will be spent in her own home! Read below to find out more of the kind and generous ways you and others are helping to make this season special for these families and many more people.
I’m so proud of all the ways you have made a positive difference this year, and I am so thankful to have your help in ending child homelessness! Thank you again, and may you have many blessings in 2021!
Although it’s been said many times, many ways, “Merry Christmas to you”!
Leigh
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You warmed their home and our hearts! |
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In last month's newsletter, we mentioned that a local mom and her three teenagers were moving into their own apartment and needed some items. You came through with true Grayson County generosity! You provided toiletries, snacks, hangers, sheets, comforters, waste baskets, pots and pans, storage tubs, masks, and cleaning supplies! This family is now comfortably settled in and very appreciative of ALL you gave! Thank you for the wonderful housewarming!!
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We are so grateful to the Lone Star Chapter of the Seventh Sin Motorcycle Club (SSMC) for providing Thanksgiving for some of our former guests! Due to COVID-19, the Club did not feel comfortable providing food as they did last year. Instead, they gave a generous check, which we divided among families.
Much to the delight of the children (and adults!) that were present, club members roared into the Day Center parking lot on their motorcycles and presented the check to Family Promise Board members Bobby Hancock and Jordan Foreman. The SSMC is a nonprofit organization that raises money and support for law enforcement, veterans, and children’s organizations.
In addition to blessing families at Thanksgiving, SSMC Lone Star is working with us to help one of our families (now living in their own home) for Christmas! Be sure to look for pictures in our January newsletter.
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Methodists bid on the future |
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The week before Thanksgiving, Sherman's First United Methodist Church held its first ever online auction, with the proceeds going to their church's missions as well as to three local nonprofits. As you may have guessed, Family Promise of Grayson County was one of the nonprofits selected to be a recipient of this very successful event! Pastors Denise Peckham, Aaron Logan, and Abbey Echols were excellent auctioneers, and Rev. Peckham presented Family Promise with a check that will change the lives of local families experiencing homelessness! We are so blessed to have First UMC Sherman partnering with us to create meaningful change for children and their families! Thank you!
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Welcome New Board Members |
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While we are sad to say goodbye to outgoing Board President Asa Jessee and Vice President Jordan Foreman who have served us so well, we are glad to welcome four new members to the Board! These include: Neal Alexander of Pottsboro, Danielle Farrington of Pottsboro, Mike Flanagan of Whitesboro, and Tyler Lewis of Whitewright. These folks bring so much talent and passion for our mission, and we look forward to their leadership and guidance. Watch the "Get to Know" feature in future newsletters to learn more about these individuals! |
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Get to Know the Family Promise Staff |
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Leigh Walker has been the Executive Director of Family Promise of Grayson County since it opened in 2018. She loves her job, and her favorite part is getting to interact with so many delightful people: guests, volunteers, pastors, others in the community, and especially the children!
Born in Houston, she studied social work at Baylor and UT before marrying her better half, Jim. They moved to Sherman in 1993 and are members of Grace United Methodist Church. Leigh and Jim have two daughters (Sarah & Hannah), one dog, and 6 chickens.
Leigh enjoys reading, camping, hiking, singing, and playing games with her family. Their favorite place to camp in Texas is Big Bend National Park!
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- The Family Promise Day Center opens its doors to Children's Protective Services (CPS) when they have youth without a placement, so that the youth can take daily showers until a placement is found for them. This is especially important to high school and middle school students who care about their hygiene and appearance.
- Every person over the age of three years that comes into the Family Promise program participates in counseling.
- Adults in the Family Promise program receive training in budgeting, money management, parenting, and other skills that will help prevent future homelessness.
- Grayson County is one of 17 Family Promise Affiliates in Texas, There are more than 200 Affiliates nationwide, serving more than 125,000 people a year.
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Bombas advertises that for every item purchased, they donate an item to someone affected by homelessness. As of this writing, they have donated over 43 million items across the USA!
Bombas Giving Partner Ella Fitzbag recently contacted Family Promise of Grayson County to see if we "could use some new socks" for our guest families and others. We answered with a resounding, "Yes, please!" We gave her a count by size, and as soon as the socks arrive, we will distribute them. Pretty sure no one has cold feet about this generous offer!
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Prayers for Our Community |
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Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
–Robert Louis Stevenson
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If you would like to learn more about Family Promise of Grayson County including:
- How to participate
- How to volunteer
- How to support through donations
Didn’t get this newsletter directly? Join our mailing list by sending an email to the newsletter editor. Be sure to forward this to a friend!
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