Family Promise of Grayson County Newsletter | February 2021
NTXGivingDay
Our mission is intersecting faith and community to empower
Grayson County families to end child homelessness.
Message from our Executive Director
Happy February!

In a month known for hearts and candy, I am much more impressed by the selfless love demonstrated day after day by YOU, our volunteers. Even during a global pandemic, you continue to give graciously. Look at the yellow box below to see just how amazing you are!

Be sure to read about Family HOPE, our new homelessness prevention program, too.

Thank you again for all you make possible for children and families in need. I hope you feel loved and appreciated today and every day.

With love,
Leigh
Thank you to ALL our volunteers! You are making a BIG difference!
Thank you to Douglass Distributing!
We are so thrilled that the generous employees of Douglass Distributing chose Family Promise of Grayson County to receive a Christmas offering in honor of the Douglass family! In lieu of giving Christmas gifts to the Douglass family, the thoughtful employees make a donation to a nonprofit organization in the family's honor.

Pictured (L-R) are Diane Douglass McCarty, her brother Brad Douglass, their father Bill Douglass (presenting the check), Leigh Walker, Amyee McAlister, and Brad's daughter Whitney Douglass Oestreich.
Family HOPE
In addition to our Interfaith Hospitality Network (in which guests that already are experiencing homelessness stay in churches until they are financially stable enough to move into their own homes), we now are developing the Family HOPE (Housing Opportunities to Prevent Eviction) program to help families facing homelessness to remain in their homes and avoid homelessness altogether. Preventing homelessness is much less costly financially and emotionally for our families. We will keep you posted on this program as it is implemented!
Get to Know the Family Promise Board
Family Promise of Grayson County welcomed four new members to the Board of Directors in 2021! This month's featured Board member is Danielle Farrington! She is new to the Board, but she has been an active volunteer through Georgetown Baptist church in Pottsboro since we began serving guests nearly three years ago.

Danielle is married to her high school sweetheart, Garrett, and they have two amazing children. Their daughter Maelyn plays softball and is an aspiring astrogeologist. [That means she wants to study the geology of celestial bodies such as planets, moons, and asteroids. I had to look it up!] Their ninja son Easton enjoys learning and performing martial arts skills. The Farringtons state they love serving their community, watching their children's activities, and just hanging out together. They also love all things Disney, as you might have guessed from their picture! (They are the ones in the middle!)
Did you know...
  • Children experiencing homelessness are 3 times more likely to be put into special education.

  • They are 8-9 times more likely to repeat grades than children with stable housing.

  • Children experiencing homelessness are 7 times more likely to attempt suicide.

  • 47% of children experiencing homelessness suffer from anxiety, depression, or withdrawal.

  • Family Promise considers staying in a car, living in a motel or in a shelter, and couch surfing (doubling up with other families) to be homelessness.

  • 1 in 4 renter households spend more than 50% of their income on rent and utilities.
Prayers for our community
We covet your prayers. Please pray: 

  • that our guest families can find gainful employment 
  • that each child in our program will feel secure and loved
  • that the adults in our program will feel supported as they work towards providing a stable home for their children
  • that each volunteer will know how meaningful and worthy their time is to our guests’ success
  • that families can find affordable housing
  • that we attain our vision of a community in which no child is homeless 
  • that EVERYONE involved with Family Promise of Grayson County in ANY way will know God’s love is at its core!
Learn More
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

Please visit www.familypromisegrayson.org or contact Executive Director, Leigh Walker at director@familypromisegrayson.org.

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Family Promise of Grayson County | 903-271-1088 | Contact|Email|Website