Family Promise of Grayson County Newsletter September 2024 | |
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Our mission is intersecting faith and community to empower
Grayson County families to end child homelessness.
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MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | |
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Wow! There are so many great things happening in our community! School has started, the Corn Hole Tournament is just 3 weeks away, early giving for North Texas Giving Day starts today, and Independent Financial just hosted another great financial literacy class for us!
You continue to show extravagant hospitality towards the two families in our Rotation program, and your generosity knows no bounds! Thank you, wonderful friends, for all the ways you show your love and make our world a better place. Keep reading to get the details!
With deep gratitude,
Leigh
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POP & PITCH
CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT
What's happening? It's our second annual Cornhole Tournament fundraiser on Saturday, September 21, beginning at 9:30 AM, during the Sherman Arts Fest! It will take place at Covenant Presbyterian church (322 W. Pecan Street, Sherman, TX).
Grab a friend and form a team! This tournament is open to children and adults of all ages. The deadline to register a team is 5 PM on Friday, September 20, 2024. Each team consists of two members.
Team Entry Fee: There is a $50 registration fee for each team. To enter, go to FamilyPromiseGrayson.org.
Want to bypass Round 1 while also making an impact? If you register online before September 20, you have an option to pay $75 for your team entry fee and get guaranteed entry to Round 2.
First Prize: The prize for the winning team is $500 ($250/person). This is a benefit tournament, so the remainder of the proceeds will go to Family Promise of Grayson County.
Be a Sponsor: It's not too late! For details, visit our website.
As a sponsor or a team participant, you are helping provide resources so Family Promise of Grayson County can assist more families in our community. We help families with children work towards stable housing and avoid or overcome homelessness. Our vision is a community where no child is homeless.
For more information about the tournament:
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Thank you to our 2024 Cornhole Tournament Sponsors!
CHEDDAR CHAMPION Sponsors ($2500)
- Graber & Walker, LLP
- Dale and Sylvia Walker
- Atmos Energy Corporation
- Independent Financial
- Ruiz Foods
BUTTERY DELIGHT Sponsors ($1000)
- First Texas National Bank
- Edward Jones--Asa Jessee and John Mabary
- Covenant Presbyterian Church
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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
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
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Friends, you have outdone yourselves again! The kindness and generosity you show the families we serve never ceases to be amazing!
Last month alone, you left laundry soap on our doorstep, dropped off bags of shorts and shirts, shared quilts, towels, bowls, and blankets, donated mattresses, brought boxes of books, delivered food, volunteered your time and energy, organized our cabinets, and did too many other things to name! You have served on the Board, prepared special meals for our guests, spoken kind words, and shown us love. THANK YOU!
Some of the ways local businesses have provided for our families this month:
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Knight Family Chiropractic recently celebrated "Christmas in July" by collecting and delivering to the Day Center not one, but two loads of diapers, wipes, cleaning products, trash sacks, toilet paper, and gift cards! (Thank you, Josh Knight!)
- Title Max of Sherman gathered school supplies and hygiene items and brought them over in an adorable little school bus!
- Executive Director Ron Ruppel and Share Ministries provided boxes of diapers, wipes, and food for us to share with anyone in need.
Your kindness and generosity provide more than just material goods. They help restore dignity and self worth. Thank you!
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Some of our Board members are holding signs to tell you that on Thursday, September 19, Family Promise of Grayson County will be participating in North Texas Giving Day, an online event for our whole region! Your gift helps us achieve our vision of a community where no child is homeless.
Today is the first day of early giving for the Communities Foundation of Texas North Texas Giving Day. From now until September 19th, you can make your gift through Early Giving HERE, or go to NorthTexasGivingDay.org/donate/familypromiseofgraysoncounty. Last year, $63.9 million was given to about 3000 North Texas charities! Be part of something great!
Every donation to Family Promise improves lives:
- $ 25 buys a birth certificate so an individual can enroll in school or housing
- $ 50 buys diapers for one baby for a month
- $100 pays for a week of gasoline so parents can drive to work and school
- $200 pays for a week of daycare for one child while parents are at work
- $500 gives Day Center support for one week so families have a place to bathe, wash clothes, pursue employment, and be together
- $1000 assists families with rent or utility payments so that they may remain in their homes
We so appreciate your generosity and hope you will include us among the local nonprofits you support!
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GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE | |
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Family Promise of Grayson County and Independent Financial collaborate to host monthly financial literacy classes at the Family Promise Day Center. In August, Larsha' Thomas (VP and Senior Community Development Officer) led adults in an animated discussion about credit and credit scores, while Joshua Whitworth (Senior BSA Analyst) taught the children about saving money and making savings goals.
Special thanks to Larsha', Joshua, and Independent Financial for sharing their time and talent with us. Family Promise Resource Advocates Tara Hickerson and Kristi Shilling get extra credit for overseeing the younger children in the playroom!
Classes are open to the public. Childcare, snacks, and gas cards are provided. The next class will be held September 24th at 5:30 PM. For more information, call 903-771-0322.
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Those of us who work in the Family Promise office have the privilege of hearing about all the ways our congregations care for the guests in our rotation program. The two families currently being hosted have told us about special meals that have been prepared for them, about thoughtful gestures that made them feel welcome, and about warm conversations that help them feel valued. It is a pleasure to witness all the forms that "Love thy neighbor" can take!
Congregations hosting in September include: Trinity Baptist in Sherman, Grace United Methodist in Sherman, First United Methodist in Whitesboro, and Covenant Presbyterian 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 soon!) 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!
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Becky Frank, Board Chair, is accepting applications for potential aboard members. Generally, terms begin in January and last three years. Board meetings are held monthly (except July and December) and usually last an hour. If you have a passion for helping others and enjoy working with fun and energetic people, please prayerfully consider applying. You may contact Becky at Beckykfrank@gmail.com or call Leigh Walker (903-271-1088) for more information. | |
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"Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people."
~ Roy T. Bennett
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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
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!
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