Our mission is intersecting faith and community to empower
Grayson County families to end child homelessness.
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Message from our Director |
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Is it just my imagination, or has 2021 flown by? So much has happened, both good and bad. We have lost some dear friends and relatives, and we have made new friends and welcomed new babies.
Together we have served four families as guests in our Interfaith Hospitality Network (the rotation program). We currently are serving 45 families in our homelessness prevention/diversion program. That includes 66 adults and 110 children that will not have to go through the trauma of losing their home. We are starting a new transitional housing program, and we have assisted over 450 families and individuals with referrals. That’s a lot of goodness!
You can be proud of all the ways you have made a positive difference this year. You ARE Family Promise, and you are helping to eliminate child homelessness in our community! Thank you.
Joy and peace,
Leigh
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Ribbon Cutting and Open House! |
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As reported last month, Clayton Homes is donating a new manufactured home to Family Promise of Grayson County for use as transitional housing for guests graduating out of our rotation program! The home will be located in Knollwood Village, where the property manager, Janis Gaines, has been very helpful. On Tuesday, December 21st at 9 AM, we will have a ribbon cutting and Open House. Come by and see it for yourself! Special thanks to Grace United Methodist Church for furnishing the bedrooms and to Ashley HomeStore in Sherman for donating 2 twin mattresses! We are so excited to be partnering with Clayton Homes in this new venture, and we are honored that they selected us to receive this home!
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Tioga ISD Middle School Student Council recently blessed the guests of Family Promise with FIVE boxes of new socks for children, women, and men! The Council held a drive in October to collect the socks, and then several students delivered them to the Family Promise Day Center. Obviously the Middle School students in Tioga are very generous, and many people in Grayson County will have warm feet this winter as a result! Huge thanks to Kendal, Gabby, Tatum, Chloe, Abby, Makenzi, Bella, Emma, Grace, Abbie, Lena, and their Student Council sponsors Charla Schaffer and Loree Eddleman. You are making a difference in our community! |
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Texoma Christian School Care-a-thon! |
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A few weeks ago, several sixth grade students participating in Texoma Christian School's 22nd annual Care-a-thon spent a morning sprucing up the Family Promise Day Center. These industrious young ladies planted pansies, cleaned, sorted, vacuumed, and even washed windows! After hearing about the programs offered by Family Promise, the students asked many good questions, and hopefully learned more about the issue of family homelessness. Special thanks to Addie, Addison, Adelaide, Charley, Preslie, Scarlet, and their teachers Ila Rigdon and Mitsuko Lee for sharing their time and energy with us. We sure appreciate your caring hearts!
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Seventh Sin Lone Star Motorcycle Club blesses more families! |
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The Lone Star chapter of the Seventh Sin Motorcycle Club (SSMC) provided a generous check to Family Promise to assist families during the holiday season. This is the third consecutive year the SSMC has given a Thanksgiving gift to those we serve. Club members came to the Day Center parking lot on their motorcycles and presented the check to Family Promise Board member Danielle Farrington. Danielle, her husband Garrett, and their two children are active Family Promise volunteers. The SSMC is a nonprofit organization that raises money and support for law enforcement, veterans, and children’s organizations. We are so grateful for their support!
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It's a boy!
Last spring, many of you met Nicole while she was in our rotation program. She was pregnant then, but on October 28, she delivered a handsome, 8 lb. 12 oz. son named Koby Elijah. Nicole and Koby are doing well. She is excited about decorating their home for his first Christmas!
Welcome, little one. 💙
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There is not enough space here to thank our outgoing Board members adequately. Bobby Hancock and Mike Young have been on the Board since I started in 2018. Each served an extra year, and Mike was the Board Secretary in 2020 and 2021. Carin Monk has devoted countless hours to being the Board Treasurer for the past two years. These leaders have gone above and beyond the call of duty to support Family Promise. We shall miss you!
We are delighted to welcome Paulette Barrett to the Board and to welcome back Kelly Reed and Becky Frank! Kelly agreed to serve an extra year as Board Chair, and Becky is returning after a 2 year hiatus. These folks bring 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 them!
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Transitional Housing Wish List |
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A few items are needed to finish out the Clayton home. These items may be dropped off at the Day Center or call Leigh Walker (903-271-1088) to make other arrangements:
- 2 shower curtain liners
- 2 toothbrush holders (unbreakable)
- 2 soap dishes (unbreakable)
- 2 dark blue throw rugs (washable)
- 3 twin bedspreads (dark blue)
- 1 dark blue wastebasket (bedroom)
- 1 neutral bathmat
- 1 neutral wastebasket (bathroom)
- 3 sets of Sterilite-type drawers for use inside the closets (for socks, underwear, etc.)
- Walmart or Target gift cards
Thank you!
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"Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name!"
~Placide Cappeau (1843)
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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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