Our mission is intersecting faith and community to empower
Grayson County families to end child homelessness.
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Message from our Board Chair |
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Happy New Year! I will be serving as the Board Chair for Family Promise of Grayson County (FPGC) for 2021, and am honored to do so. Joining me on the Board are Vice Chair Aaron Logan, Treasurer Carin Monk, Secretary Mike Young, and members Bobby Hancock, Brett Evans, Neal Alexander, Danielle Farrington, Mike Flanagan, and Tyler Lewis. I know we all aspire to be part of a community where no child is homeless and together, we will continue to work towards that goal.
Since FPGC began serving families two and a half years ago, our primary program has been one in which families with children experiencing homelessness receive case management coordinated by our Family Promise staff, as well as food and shelter provided by our network of host and support congregations. In the last two and a half years, we have helped 17 families (including 38 children) transition from our shelter program into stable homes! Wouldn’t it be a wonderful blessing if we could expand our services to assist at risk families so they are spared from experiencing homelessness in the first place? With that in mind, the Board will begin the new year exploring additional partnerships and opportunities to prevent family homelessness in Grayson County.
I am so grateful to our dedicated staff, partner congregations, volunteers and generous donors that have continued to support Family Promise despite the pandemic. We couldn’t do what we do without you. Know that your support truly makes a difference in the lives of the families we serve. As one guest family member wrote: “I have not felt God’s love in such a tangible way as I did while we were in the program.” Together, we can reduce child homelessness in our community, one family at a time. I look forward to working with you during the coming year.
Many Blessings,
Kelly Reed
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Texoma Giving Partners Provide PPE |
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We are so grateful to the Texoma Giving Partners for providing Family Promise with masks, cleaning spray, sanitizing wipes, and disinfectant. Keeping our guests and volunteers safe and healthy during the pandemic remains a top priority. Special thanks to Austin College students Helen Nguyen, Broderick Hampton, and Isbah Plumber for delivering the products!
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We are so proud of our most recent Family Promise graduates! Matthew and Heather worked hard, saved their money, and moved into their own apartment just in time for their precious baby girl to spend her first Christmas at home! The Sherman Quilt Makers blessed the family with a beautiful housewarming quilt. Thank you to Mary Jacobs for delivering it to the Day Center, and thank you to all the congregations that hosted this family while they got back on their feet. We wish Matthew, Heather, and Lilly many more blessings in 2021! |
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Motorcycle Club Delivers! |
The Lonestar Chapter of the Seventh Sin Motorcycle Club (SSMC) delighted an entire neighborhood when they escorted Santa and Mrs. Claus to the home of one of our former guest families! The kindhearted and generous bikers brought a load of Christmas gifts for the family and thrilled the children by letting them sit on the bikes! Santa and Mrs. Claus also graciously allowed several neighborhood families to take their children's pictures with the famous couple! We cannot thank this group enough for their thoughtfulness and generosity!
The SSMC is a nonprofit organization that raises money and support for law enforcement, veterans, and children’s organizations.
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Speaking of Santa's helpers... |
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Shelley Anderson-Shurtleff and her daughter Logan used some of their extensive artistic talent to create art pieces, which they then sold in order to raise money to buy Christmas gifts for six of the children who are being followed by Family Promise. Family Promise staff contacted the parents ahead of time to find out what their children would like, and Shelley and Logan made it happen! Santa has nothing on these amazing women, pictured here with some of the many gifts they provided! Thank you!! |
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The Grayson County Social Services Association (GCSSA) recently voted Becky Frank as the Community Volunteer of the Year for her work with Family Promise. She helped get Family Promise started in Grayson County and cheerfully has given countless hours of her time to our affiliate since then. She also volunteers with several other organizations, including Covenant Presbyterian church, Home Hospice of Grayson County, and Grand Central Station's Dining Car. THANK YOU, Becky, for all you do for our community!
GCSSA also voted Leigh Walker as the Social Services Worker of the Year. Leigh is the Executive Director of Family Promise of Grayson County where she loves working hard to end child homelessness in our community. The awards were presented during a "drive-by luncheon" held at Texoma Council of Governments.
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Despite the pandemic, over 4558 hours of service were donated by volunteers in 2020 to provide food and shelter for our guest families.
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In addition to the six families we served in the program, we also provided 43 families with material goods such as food, clothing, diapers, and emergency assistance.
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Another 174 families were provided referrals to other services.
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3534 meals and 1178 bed nights were provided by host and support congregations to our guest families in 2020!
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Lord, we ask for your wisdom, for your strength and power to be constantly present within us. We pray you would make us strong and courageous for the road ahead. Give us ability beyond what we feel able, let your gifts flow freely through us, so that you would be honored by our lives, and others would be drawn to you. In Jesus' Name, Amen. |
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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
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