aye.creator
The hearts of all staff members and volunteers of the Grapevine Relief And Community Exchange are tied to giving — that’s why Rebecca Cox relates so strongly to its mission of helping others. As a homelessness and housing advocate with over 20 years of experience, Rebecca knows how important it is to support a community in need. As GRACE’s newest CEO, she got to experience that up close during her first season working at the Christmas Cottage. Having successfully served through her first holiday season, she is now looking ahead to a full calendar year of building upon GRACE’s legacy of service.
MY VERY FIRST NONPROFIT ROLE WAS… at Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth. At the time, they had 500-700 homeless individuals a night and one social worker to serve them. I was that one social worker for a year and a half and primarily helped those who had a disability or were 55 or older.
ONE OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS WAS… asking my CEO if I could write grants to fund a special shelter for our clients. I was awarded $15,000 to build a few walls, buy a few beds and create a little office for other service providers to help. It was so rewarding to focus our efforts and find the money to help 50 individuals all at once instead of just one at a time. That was when I realized I was called to serve in a larger capacity.
I CONTINUED TO GROW WHILE… working for the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition and the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance until I was hired as GRACE’s CEO in December 2023. What impressed me most with GRACE was its holistic approach to service. I’ve worked and consulted with many nonprofits, and it often seemed that a lot of rules were put in place to find reasons to say ‘no.’ GRACE takes the time to truly review each family’s situation and find reasons to say ‘yes.’
OUR CARE MANAGERS ALWAYS… look at every problem individuals and families may be experiencing, including housing insecurity, hunger or medical needs. Our food pantry serves 20-50 households daily, and our medical clinic provides free care for individuals who may not have health insurance or Medicaid. GRACE also focuses on housing security, directly helping an average of 30 or more families every month.
MY FIRST SEASON WITH GRACE WAS… during the Christmas Cottage, and it was such a whirlwind of joy. I felt like I was Santa’s personal assistant! We served more families than ever before with a growth of 16% over last year. The way GRACE rallied together and treated each family like their own was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Even though there was a line out the door, every family got personal attention and truly received the spirit of Christmas and of GRACE.
I SPENT MOST DAYS… with team members and departments, chipping in wherever I could and stepping in to help wherever I was needed most. Some days, that looked like helping shoppers in the Christmas Cottage, or packing a food pantry box just in time for it to go out to families in line. On other days, that looked like staring at organizational charts, reviewing the bylaws and going over the financials. It’s really all in the name of GRACE being the best stewards of the blessings we have been given.
SERVING OTHERS WILL ALWAYS BE… a large part of my identity. I honestly can’t imagine a life without my 24 years of community service. It’s so rewarding to see a need and find like-minded servants who also have a heart for helping others.
I AM MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO… seeing where God will take us in 2024 and how He will continue to help us give GRACE to those who need us most. What seems insurmountable for any one of us alone is possible with all of the staff, advocates and supporters who have spent the last 37 years building a community that is so important to so many. I feel beyond blessed to find a family where the idea of GRACE in action is a reality.