Our mission is intersecting faith and community to empower

Grayson County families to end child homelessness.

Check out all the fun pictures from those events and get the scoop on some of the other things that are going on! We are going places!

With deep appreciation and gratitude for you,

Leigh

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BEANBAG BANDITS!

The A-Team and The Beanbag Bandits!

Larhsa' Thomas presenting the prizes

Family Promise Board, Staff, and Helpers!

Twenty teams had a great time competing in the Family Promise Corn Hole Tournament during the Sherman ArtsFest! The first place prize was bagged by Austin Kays and Dylan Kays of Independent Financial's very own Beanbag Bandits! The second place prize went to Tracy Walls and Terry Joe of The A-Team! Congratulations to all!

Of course the real winners of this fundraiser are all the families that will be assisted with the proceeds from the tournament. We came very close to achieving our goal of raising $30,000 through this event!

Huge thanks to Larsha' Thomas, Christy Close, Shannon Rennwanz, Becky Frank, and the Family Promise Board and staff for organizing and running the event, to Joe Frank for timekeeping, to Kelly Reed for posting the bracket, to Chris Butler for taking pictures, to Covenant Presbyterian church for allowing us to use their parking lot for the tournament, to Cinemark Sherman for donating delicious popcorn, to all the teams that participated, and to everyone who came by to cheer! It was a fun day! P.S.--Check out the fun video Maureen Kane made and posted on Facebook!

We can't thank our 2024 Cornhole Tournament Sponsors enough! If you know these good folks, give them a hug!

CHEDDAR CHAMPION Sponsors ($2500)

• Graber & Walker, LLP
• Dale and Sylvia Walker
• Atmos Energy Corporation
• Independent Financial
• Ruiz Foods
• Maverick Farm & Fence Supply
• DSBWorldWide, Inc. (In-kind)

BUTTERY DELIGHT Sponsors ($1000)

• First Texas National Bank
• Edward Jones--Asa Jessee and John Mabary
• Covenant Presbyterian Church
• First United Methodist Church/Sherman
• Mark and Cathy Clayton
• Anonymous

POPCORN PAL Sponsors ($500)

• Bank of Texas
• Nat McClure State Farm
• Grace Lutheran Church
• Cary and Diane McDougal
• Blair Weaver Construction
• Vickie White Travel
• Grace United Methodist Church

SALTY SNACK PACK Sponsors ($300)

• Bayless-Hall & Blanton Insurance
• Ability Pilates and Yoga
• Norman Gordon-- Paragon Realtors
• Maureen Kane-- Paragon Realtors
• DSBWorldWide, Inc.
• Whitesboro Kiwanis Club
• Anonymous

NORTH TEXAS GAVE!

The 16th annual Communities Foundation of Texas' North Texas Giving Day brought in $68.3 million for 3271 nonprofits in North Texas! Nearly $165,000 was given to 17 organizations based in Grayson County. Your generosity strengthens our community!

Whether your gift pays for a week of gasoline so a family can get to work and school, buys a month of diapers for a baby, or assists families with rent or utility payments so they may remain in their homes, you are helping to achieve our vision of a community where no child is homeless. On behalf of the families we serve and ALL those who will benefit from your kindness, thank you so much!

PRIDE OF LIONS

Delaney Garza of the Sherman Noon Lions Club recently invited Family Promise Executive Director Leigh Walker to share information about Family Promise's programs. Great discussion followed the presentation!

The Sherman Noon Lions Club is dedicated to promoting volunteerism, supporting those in need, and fostering a sense of unity among its members and the community. In recent years, one of their "mane" activities has been helping families with boxes of food and toys at Christmas. Family Promise appreciates the Lions!

(L-R: Marty Richardson, Leigh, and Delaney Garza)

Next week, staff and Board members from Family Promise sites across the country will join together in Indianapolis for the 17th Family Promise Conference! The "Re-ignite" Conference is an opportunity to spend time with the National staff, join peers from other Affiliates, and interact with subject matter experts. Karen Olson, who founded Family Promise in 1986, plans to attend.

Family Promise of Grayson County Board Chair Becky Frank, and staff members Tara Hickerson, Kristi Shilling, and Leigh Walker, will spend time in workshops, leadership activities, and programs designed to strengthen skills needed to end child homelessness. They also will hear keynote speaker Liz Murray share her life story of how she went from being homeless to attending Harvard! Be sure to read next month's newsletter to find out all the exciting details!

"FIND THE GOOD" DAY

Junior League of Grayson County members Cathy Eubank and Linda Vissering recently stopped by the Family Promise Day Center with gift bags of goodies for each staff member! The League was celebrating the power of finding the good in our community and recognized Family Promise of Grayson County for the great work we do to support Grayson County families! What an honor it is to be celebrated in such a positive way! Thank you, Cathy and Linda!

HOST CONGREGATIONS SHARE LOVE

Our Host congregations truly know the joy of serving others. The families we serve are nurtured in both body and spirit by the love of volunteers like you who provide a kind word or a listening ear as you share a meal with our guests.

We currently are hosting two single mothers, one with 3 sons and one with two sons. That's FIVE teenage boys! We are meeting with another family that plans to join us in about a week. It is HARD to be homeless! Thank you for ALL the ways you help our families get back on their feet.

Congregations hosting in October include: Covenant Presbyterian in Sherman, Grace Lutheran in Denison, Georgetown Baptist in Pottsboro, and Fairview Baptist in Sherman. We are so thankful to our congregations for welcoming, hosting, feeding, and loving our guests so graciously!

NOTE: To those of you who are Host Coordinators, pastors, movers, shakers, and keepers of church calendars, the 2025 Family Promise hosting calendar is starting to fill up! Please check your email for the signup genius (coming out this week!) or call Leigh Walker (903-271-1088) or Kristi Shilling (903-771-0322) to schedule the dates your congregation would like to host. You are making a positive difference in our community!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

"Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."  ~ Mother Teresa