Monte Morris, Executive Director of GRACE, Shonda Schaefer, and Don Hoggatt at Winewood
Last Saturday Grapevine's Winewood Restaurant premiered its new brunch menu to nearly two hundred local foodies, gourmands, connoisseurs and restaurant patrons. In addition, Winewood helped raise awareness and funds for the GRACE Holiday Food Distribution programs.
“We were honored to have Winewood kick off our holiday food drive with this wonderful event,” said GRACE Executive Director Shonda Schaefer. “GRACE has received great support from all of the Grapevine Epicentre restaurants, which includes the Hartnett family and General Manager Monte Morris.” In addition to Winewood, the Harnett Group of restaurants includes Bob's Steak & Chop House, Mí Día from Scratch and Flips Patio Grill.
Last year, GRACE provided holiday meals for 2,644 people in the Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake communities.
“Many of us are extremely fortunate to have our holiday feasts with all of the traditional trimmings, however, we have many clients who would have nothing special on their Thanksgiving table without GRACE,” Schaefer said. “The value of a complete food basket for a family of four is $85, and our Food Pantry is hoping to receive enough donations of either food or monies to ensure these families receive a full holiday meal.
“We really benefit from a large group hosting a food drive, such as a church or business,” added Schaefer. “Drives work better if a group chooses one or a few of the items for the drive rather than a general food drive.”
Holiday food baskets normally contain the ingredients for a full holiday meal including pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, rolls, fruits, vegetables, potatoes, dressing and, of course, turkey. In 2011, GRACE supplied Thanksgiving and Christmas Food baskets to approximately 1,133 families. The approximate value of a complete Food Basket for a family of four is $85. Donated items for the Thanksgiving Food Baskets should be dropped off at GRACE Food Pantry before November 17. A full listing of needed food can be found at GRACE Grapevine.