Our mission is intersecting faith and community to empower

Grayson County families to end child homelessness.

MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The following are just a few examples of people whom we love and of friends who have shown love to us recently. Rebecca Judd, a friend of mine for over 30 years, brought by these beautiful, homemade Valentine cookies. (Look her up on Facebook under, "A Different Cookie".) We shared her cookies with several families!

Our Board retreat was postponed due to the winter storm, so next month you'll get to hear all about the exciting plans we have for 2026! Meanwhile, stay warm, and may you always know you are loved.

With gratitude,

Leigh

WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A... BIG CHECK!

Will Bain, Senior Vice President of First Texas National Bank, recently presented Family Promise of Grayson County with a large check! FTNB has provided community funding to many nonprofits and essential organizations. We are so grateful for Will and his team for their belief in our mission and their commitment to making a difference in Grayson County. Pictured with Will (holding the check) are Family Promise Board members Blake Bray, Cathy Clayton, and Yahaira Quinones (also a FTNB employee!) and Family Promise staff Leigh Walker and Kristi Shilling. When you see Will or other FTNB employees, please tell them how much we appreciate them and their support!

ONE SEITZ FITS ALL

Before Christmas, Whitney Seitz, daughter of longtime Family Promise volunteers Brenda and Brad Walsh, called to see if her four children and a couple of their friends could volunteer over the school break. These six helpful and caring children started the year off right by spending a morning at the Day Center, cleaning, sorting, and organizing toys and supplies. They even carried out trash and cleaned toilets! They also learned a little bit about child homelessness before they left.

You may recall that about 18 months ago, the Seitz family was featured in this newsletter after they held a lemonade stand and donated the proceeds to Family Promise. Pictured here at the Family Promise Day Center, are Paisley, Rayley, Corbin, and Wyatt Seitz, and their friends Charlotte and Logan Reed. We are grateful that these children's families are teaching them about the importance of generosity and helping others! If you know these families, give them a hug and tell them we are so grateful for them!

KNIGHT VISION

Our friend Cynthia Kondo, Sherman Team Leader with Knight Family Chiropractic, delivered a load of diapers, wipes, and Kroger gift cards for the guests of Family Promise. Knight Family Chiropractic believes when you get well, you move well and stay well, which then enables you to give well. As part of their Give Well Project, they support Family Promise and other local organizations that make an impact in our community. At their Sherman office, a bulletin board highlights some of the ways they have given back to the community--and some of the many thank you notes we have had cause to send them! Thank you, KFC, for your kindness, generosity, and support!

Elmont Baptist church in Van Alstyne recently hosted training for new Family Promise volunteers. Elmont is one of our compassionate Host Congregations, providing food and shelter for our Rotation guests three or four weeks a year. The new volunteers asked great questions and obviously have caring hearts!

Greater New Hope Baptist church will be hosting volunteer training on Sunday, February 20, 12:30 - 2:30 PM (at 722 E. Pecan St. in Sherman). Greater New Hope has been a kindhearted and generous Support Congregation (providing meals and hospitality to our guests at other churches) since Family Promise began hosting in 2018. We currently are in discussion about collaborating to provide a mentorship program. If you want more information about that and/or would like to volunteer with Family Promise, please come to this training. It is fun and free! Bring a friend and meet new friends! In order to ensure adequate space and supplies, please call Leigh at 903-771-0322 ext. 3 to say you will be there.

VENERABLE VOLUNTEERS

Theresa and David Osborne are two of our outstanding volunteers! Nearly every week, they faithfully deliver boxes of food and other goodies to the Family Promise Day Center. This enables us to keep our blessing box stocked and to have food to share with those in need. They are such a gift to us and to all the folks we serve!

The Osbornes attend Georgetown Baptist church in Pottsboro. David is retired from Atmos Energy, loves to fish, and is a movie buff. Theresa is half Polish, half Ukrainian, and once lived in Iceland--where it likely is warmer than Grayson County has been lately! Between them, they have six children, nine grandchildren, and at least one great grandchild. (I am sure they know how many great grandchildren they have, but I am less certain!) Their daughter-in-law Angie Stewart is another of our beloved volunteers. Volunteers truly are the backbone of our organization!

LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR('S HOUSE)

Connie Lloyd, of Your Neighbor's House Food Pantry and Thrift Store in Whitesboro, delivered a stack of boxes filled with toiletries! Among other things, there was shampoo, deodorant, makeup, lotion, over the counter medicine, and soap, plus coats, hoodies, and diapers! These essential items will bless so many families struggling to make ends meet. We are so thankful for Connie and Your Neighbor's House for their generosity and kindness. I'm pretty sure Connie is a blessing to all she meets! She (left) is pictured here with Family Promise's MSW Intern Kerri Sturm.

COAT COLLECTION FOR CHILLY CHILDREN

Warm thanks to Bells High School for their recent coat drive held on behalf of children served by Family Promise of Grayson County. Thanks to their efforts, we were able to hand out 33 jackets and hoodies to families that had requested them in advance. We also were able to provide coats to several more families before the recent winter storm. Staff from Sherman ISD's Head Start program contacted Family Promise after three children's jackets were stolen from a dryer at a laundromat. Thanks to Bells High School, we had perfect replacement jackets for all three children! Bells High School not only is providing warmth, but also is instilling important values of kindness and compassion in its students. Way to go, Panthers!

CLOSING THOUGHT

"Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Corinthians 16:14