|
Our mission is intersecting faith and community to empower
Grayson County families to end child homelessness.
| | |
FRESH PERSPECTIVE:
A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD CO-CHAIR
| | |
My name is Jessica Wright, and I serve as the pastor at Grace United Methodist Church. I also have the honor of co-chairing our Family Promise Board this year with Maureen Kane Stevenson.
Serving with Family Promise has given me the opportunity to see the power of neighbors and community firsthand.
| | | |
In my work as a regional facilitator with the Neighboring Movement, we share how folks can go from being strangers to acquaintances and from acquaintances to connection. A stranger is a neighbor you don’t know yet, but maybe you know some things about them.
When I lived in an apartment in Grapevine, the gentleman upstairs in the building across from us had a huge collection of wind chimes on his balcony. We called him “windchime man.” And the folks downstairs from him had an escape artist dog named Pepper. We regularly heard her family yelling, “Pepper! Pepper! Come back!” We called them “Pepper’s people.” But while we knew some things about these neighbors, we didn’t know them.
A stranger becomes an acquaintance when we share our name and contact information. This is a big step! It requires trust. But when I took this step in my current neighborhood, it also gave me a sense of deeper community because I knew a neighbor could call me if we were away and something happened at our house. This information helped us move from acquaintances to deeper connection.
This happened when I texted a neighbor before I walked to the store during the ice storm to see if they needed anything, because I knew they had a toddler and another baby on the way and might be less likely to chance falling on the sidewalk. Or when another neighbor saw my boys attacking the snow and ice with an ordinary shovel and toys from the beach and offered to let us borrow their proper snow shovels. We find connection when we are willing to give and receive care.
Family Promise gives us the opportunity to form deeper relationships with our neighbors whether that looks like helping with a fundraiser, teaching a financial literacy or tool time class, donating shoes or laundry detergent, hosting families in rotation, working on a grant application – the list goes on and on! We stop being strangers to each other and become a connected community.
You are likely receiving this newsletter because you are already a part of the work Family Promise is doing. THANK YOU! Because of you and neighbors like you, we are creating a stronger, more resilient, more loving community we can all call home.
| | |
PLANTING SEEDS FOR SUCCESS:
GREAT NEW MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
| | |
Greater New Hope Baptist church and Family Promise of Grayson County are collaborating to create a mentorship program that connects Mentor Coaches with children and youth. Mentor Coaches provide guidance, encouragement, and practical help rooted in biblical principles, ensuring that every relationship is nurtured with care, accountability, and purpose. This joint initiative reflects both groups' dedication to investing in people to create pathways for long-term success.
For several years, Greater New Hope has been a Support Congregation, generously providing meals and hospitality for our Rotation program guests. During this time, Johnny Jackson, Lucille Shannon, and other church members identified the need for adults to form meaningful relationships and provide additional positive role models, especially with some of our teenage guests. Greater New Hope recently hosted a joint training session with Family Promise. Jewel Cooper gave guidance about key responsibilities of mentors, and Leigh Walker reviewed best practices for Family Promise volunteers.
Anyone interested in becoming a mentor is encouraged to contact Jewel Cooper at 773-970-2398 or Leigh Walker at 903-271-1088. Once confidential background checks are completed, Greater New Hope will work with Family Promise to identify individuals or families that may be a good fit for the mentorship program. We are excited about getting this started!
| | |
SPRINGING INTO ACTION:
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS
| | |
In another collaborative effort, A21, CASA, Family Promise of Grayson County, Grand Central Station, and Texoma Family Shelter are offering a free class to increase awareness of Human Trafficking in our area. The class will cover identification of those at risk and of those being trafficked, greater awareness of the issues, prevention, and comprehensive aftercare services.
The opportunity will take place on Thursday, March 26, from 2-4 PM, at the Texoma Family Shelter Training Center at 317 W. Morton Street in Denison. Special thanks to Shannon Johnson with A21 for bringing this to our community.
Training will be provided by A21, an international counter-trafficking organization that serves as the Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth (CSEY) advocacy provider in Cooke, Fannin and Grayson Counties. They provide 24/7 crisis response, long-term advocacy, and case management for children and youth who have experienced or are at high risk for commercial sexual exploitation.
This class is ideal for professionals in social work, law enforcement, healthcare, education, and/or anyone who wants to recognize the signs of human trafficking in the community and know how to respond. Training is offered at no charge, but you must register to attend.
Please register HERE.
| | |
BLOSSOMING BLESSINGS:
THOUGHTFUL AND GENEROUS CHILDREN
| | |
A group of about 30 or 40 very thoughtful children came together to help children facing or experiencing homelessness feel loved and valued. After learning that many children lack basic necessities and comfort items, they came up with their own project to address these needs. From their fellow church members at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the group collected essentials such as toiletries, socks, mosquito repellant, snacks, and little games and toys, and put them in gallon sized plastic bags. They also included handwritten notes of encouragement in each bag.
Kelse Clark-Fernandez and a few of her generous friends delivered a large basket full of the gift bags they had created and got a tour of the Day Center. While there, they learned a little more about child homelessness. Additionally, these children made a bunch of soft, fleece blankets for the children we serve. Many children already have received these bags and blankets from the blessing box outside the Family Promise Day Center.
We are so grateful for these generous children! Their idea was not only about meeting practical needs, but also about reminding other children that they are loved. Through compassion and teamwork, these young leaders proved that kindness has no age limit!
| | |
Grace Lutheran Church will be hosting volunteer training on Sunday, March 8th, from 12:30 - 2:30 PM (at 2411 Woodlake Road in Denison). Grace Lutheran has been a gracious Host Congregation for our Rotation program since Family Promise began hosting in 2018, and they will be hosting our Rotation guests the first two weeks in March.
If you would like to volunteer with Family Promise of Grayson County in any capacity at any location, please come to this training. It is fun and free! Bring a friend and meet new friends! In order to ensure adequate space, please call Leigh at 903-771-0322 ext. 3 to say you will be there.
| | |
New Season, New Site! For some time, we have been working on updating our website. HUGE thanks to our MSW Intern Kerri Sturm for picking up where others had left off and making it happen! You can find it any time by going to FamilyPromiseGrayson.org, or you can:
Check it out HERE!
| | |
Every day in Grayson County, dozens of children experience abuse. Many cases can be prevented when adults recognize warning signs early and respond appropriately. The Grayson County Children’s Advocacy Center is offering free community trainings to equip adults with the tools to:
- Recognize signs of abuse and neglect
- Understand grooming behaviors
- Respond appropriately to disclosures
- Know how and when to report concerns
Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse
In-Person: April 9, 2026 | 11:30 AM–1:00 PM
Virtual: April 21, 2026 | 5:30 PM–7:00 PM
These trainings are open to parents, grandparents, educators, coaches, church leaders, business owners, and anyone who cares about child safety.
Register HERE
| |
Next Sunday, March 8, 2026
Daylight Saving Time begins.
Remember to set your clocks ahead
one hour.
| | | "Be the sunshine that helps someone else grow!" | |
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!
| | | | |
