Emilee Prado
Once unprecedented weather started impacting families across the Metroplex, GRACE Grapevine got to work. GRACE CEO Shonda Schaefer says the nonprofit immediately shifted to ensuring their clients and families in need had the essentials to survive.
“Our biggest priority became about basic needs — making sure families have food, water, clothing, shelter,” Shonda says.
By partnering with the city of Grapevine and pointing clients to its warming center set up in The REC of Grapevine, Shonda and her team pivoted to reaching out to seniors and those with disabilities.
“We started checking on them and found that many were not connected,” Shonda says.
GRACE reached out to hundreds of individuals, ensuring they had information about available resources. Shonda says, similar to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, they were also having people who were not formally clients reach out and ask for assistance.
“When you have a family that has never asked for help, they don’t know where to start,” Shonda says. “It’s a difficult thing to navigate because they feel this layer of humiliation, even though it is not their fault.”
While providing assistance to others, the nonprofit was assessing its own damage. Pipes burst in two of GRACE’s buildings, in its clinic and laundry room in its apartment complex. Now, GRACE is looking to remedy the damage while continuing to provide short- and long-term support to local families.
For those looking for ways to help, GRACE has updated its Amazon wish list to include products like cleaning supplies and space heaters. It also has a dedicated donation fund to support families affected by the winter weather. Shonda says she expects to aid clients in the coming months with more utility assistance. There will also be a volunteer sign up sheet for those who want to donate their time to help others.
Individuals can also help on a hyper-local level by checking on their neighbors to ensure they have the resources they need to survive. And Shonda has a special request for those looking for more ways to help.
“Put GRACE in your prayers,” Shonda says.