Service Newsletter - If you are interested in receiving our monthly Service Newsletter by email, please sign up today! This newsletter will have up-to-date news about mission opportunities for all ages. E-mail service@graceavenue.org if you are interested in being a part of any of the opportunities listed below.
Back-to-School Program -
Help a child start the school year off with confidence by giving them one new outfit along with a pair of shoes. You can make this happen by adopting a child off the bulletin board in the hallway beside the church office. We are also collecting school and hygiene supplies for children and youth in our community. A list is available on the bulletin board. Frisco Family Services is hoping to assist 500 with their back-to-school needs. Last year Grace Avenue adopted 95 of these children. Please return items to boxes by the bulletin board by Tuesday, Aug 3 at noon.
The Kroger Neighbor to Neighbor Program is a great way for nonprofit organizations to raise money. It allows churches, schools (K-12), or any other charitable organization the opportunity to earn a portion of $1 million that will be donated annually. DOWNLOAD the customer letter take it with your Kroger Plus Shoppers Card to any Kroger and they will link your card to our account. This has to be done yearly so if you have done it in the past we ask you to please sign up again. The forms will also be available in the Narthex.
Sharing God’s Love through Service and Missions
Local Missions
Blood Drives
The need is constant. The gratification is instant. Every minute of every day, someone needs blood. That blood can only come from a volunteer donor, a person like you who makes the choice to donate. There is no substitute for your donation. Please join us to maintain a safe and stable blood supply by signing up to give blood at one of the blood drives scheduled at Grace Avenue during the year. Contact Wayne Carroll at hwcdec@yahoo.com.
Bread Run
Volunteers take leftover bread and other items from Target and other local
stores to two homeless shelters: The Samaritan Inn in McKinney and The
Austin Street Shelter in Dallas. The goods are distributed to homeless people who are hungry and are in need. Grace Avenue volunteers deliver an average of 50 boxes a month to help meet the need in our community. Deliveries are made on Tuesday/Thursday from 9:30am to 12:00pm and Saturday mornings from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Children may participate if they are accompanied by two adults. Contact Karen Derr at karen.derr@mac.com.
Clothe-a-Child
Clothe-A-Child is a community project that works with Kohl’s to clothe
underprivileged kids in Frisco and Little Elm. Each child is identified by the Frisco ISD/Little Elm ISD as someone who would benefit from this program. On a Saturday in October, the children and their families go to Kohl’s in Frisco where each child is given a voucher for $100 to be used towards clothing items. Each family is matched with a volunteer. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age or older to assist with the shopping. Many volunteers are needed to make this program a success. If you would like to help with this service project email service@graceavenue.org.
Cover Girls
The “Cover Girls” are women of all ages who crochet, knit, quilt and sew
to “cover” the babies born at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. To date, we have
donated 700 afghans, quilts and blankets to Parkland. We also make the white baby afghans that are given to the babies baptized at Grace Avenue. Our newest ministry is making scarves and caps for residents at local homeless shelters during the cold months, and we sometimes get involved in other fun projects. Anyone can join, and we can teach you to crochet or knit if you’d like to learn! The Cover Girls normally meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm in the Learning Center. Come join us while we socialize and work at the same time! Call Lisa McDonald at 972-335-8815 or e-mail her at barryandlisamcdonald@tx.rr.com with any questions.
Depot Ministry
Volunteers make and deliver sack lunches to day laborers that gather at the Depot Café on Main Street each Saturday. Contact Paul Copper at pcopper@jcpenney.com.
Early Response Team
Grace Avenue is forming an early response team to assist people who live in areas devastated by natural disasters. Several of our members have already attended a training and additional volunteers are needed to begin this important mission work. For more information on how you can become involved contact Curt Eiffert at 972-987-4409 or c_eiffert@yahoo.com.
Frisco Family Services
Grace Avenue supports many annual and ongoing service projects that are sponsored by Frisco Family Services.
Angel Adoption
Each December, angels are available for adoption from Frisco Family
Services for Christmas. Each angel represents a wish from a child, youth
or senior adult. Contact the Journey Class for more information.
Back-to-School Apple Adoption
Each year apples are available from Frisco Family Services. Each apple
represents a child who is waiting for one new school outfit with a pair of
shoes. The generosity of our church adopts over 100 children each August. Contact the Foundations Class for more information.
Pantry Adoption Project
Grace Avenue adopts a shelf each month at Frisco Family Services. The
next time you go grocery shopping please pick up extra items for families
who are in need and live in our community . Collection baskets are
located in both the Worship Center Narthex or the Learning Center Lobby
by the elevator. Contact Betty Pfahler at Bpfah@aol.com.
Summer Lunch Program
We will be partnering with Frisco Family Services to provide lunches,
children living in Frisco apartment complexes for two weeks during the
summer. Many of these children receive free or reduced lunches during
the school year. Contact Betty Pfahler at Bpfah@aol.com.
Thanksgiving Box Project
Each year we collect items to fill Thanksgiving Boxes for Frisco Family
Services. Contact the Cornerstone Class to help with this effort.
Green Team
Join the Green Team of our church that is helping Grace Avenue and its
members focus on ways to be good stewards of God’s creation. If you are interested in “Green” efforts, please email service@graceavenue.org.
Habitat for Humanity
Grace Avenue has been providing volunteer support for the North Collin County chapter of Habitat for Humanity for several months now. As a group, we have designated the second Saturday of each month to work on Habitat projects. On a typical Saturday, a work day starts at 8:00am and ends by mid-afternoon. All volunteers are required to complete a one-hour orientation session prior to working on a habitat job site, which covers basic information about Habitat as well as job site safety. No experience is necessary, and youth (14 years and older) can participate with adult representation. If swinging a hammer or a paint brush isn’t your thing, then you might want to volunteer at the retail store in McKinney or help coordinate lunch for the work crew. Finally, we are starting the process of getting involved with habitat global builds, getting trained on the logistics of sending a team outside of the U.S. to work on a habitat project. Details are in the works and we are tentatively targeting Summer of 2011 as a
time frame. For more details and information, please contact Matt McGhee at mattmcghee@hotmail.com or 469-964-6658.
Literacy Instruction For Texas Partnership
Grace Avenue UMC volunteers are working with adults who are learning the basics of the English language. We currently have 17 volunteer teachers trained for this ministry to cover both locations (Grace Avenue UMC and Bright Elementary in Frisco). We have had such a great response and additional assistance is needed. Adult volunteers do not need to be bilingual, just have a desire to teach or assist others. This commitment is once a week on Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 6-9:00pm at either location. Training is available. If you are interested in this exciting ministry, please contact Laura Echols- Richter at laura@graceavenue.org or 972-335-2882, ext 506.
Meals on Wheels Partnership
Grace Avenue partners with Denton Meals on Wheels to provide nutritious
meals to residents of West Frisco. The program serves senior adults, age 60 and above, who are unable to prepare nutritious meals for themselves. Volunteers are needed to pick up meals from the Frisco Senior Center and deliver them to the seniors in our community. For more information on how you can be a volunteer contact Peggy Green at peggyfgreen@sbcglobal.net.
Pioneer Tutoring Program
Grace Avenue is partnering with Pioneer Heritage Middle School in Frisco
to provide tutors for at-risk youth. We have had such a great response and
additional help is needed. This commitment is once a week on Thursday
afternoons from 3:45-4:45pm. Contact Laura for more information at
laura@graceavenue.org.
Prairie Estates Ministries
Prairie Estates is a skilled nursing facility located near Grace Avenue on West Main in Frisco. Residents look forward to interaction with our members and are blessed by the many events and services provided. If you have a heart for elderly people, consider getting involved in this fantastic ministry. There are many opportunities listed below. Contact our coordinator, Karen Gearhart, at karen_r_gearhart @yahoo.com.
Bingo every Saturday
Join us any Saturday morning at 9:00am as we play BINGO with the residents. This is a great opportunity for individuals and/or families to
volunteer together. We are always in need of BINGO prize donations
including hand lotion, socks/slippers, granola bars, sugar free candy,
figurines or other dollar store items. A collection box for prizes & other
donations is located in the Learning Center Lobby. For more information, contact Julie Foughty at 469-384-8344 or juliefoughty@yahoo.com.
Gift Shop Volunteers
Volunteers are needed daily from 10:30am - 12:00pm. You can also work
on a craft or read a book / study while you wait for customers to stop by.
You can choose one day, one day / week or month or more if you wish.
Please contact Susan Smith at 469-633-0007 or smithranch@tx.rr.com.
Nail Painting
Every Thursday from 9:30 - 11:00am. Supplies are provided. To volunteer, please contact Sarah Thompson at 214-407-6951 or Sarah_E_Thompson@vfblp.com.
Mothers Day Tea
Each year on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, Grace Avenue hosts a
Mothers’ Day Tea for the residents of Prairie Estates. To find out how
you can become involved in this special event, contact Dee Lange at deealange@yahoo.com.
Relay For Life
Relay for Life is an overnight event that brings our community together to
support the American Cancer Society. We join our community in remembering those who have lost their lives to cancer and honoring those who continue to battle and be courageous survivors of the disease. Watch for opportunities to sign up to be a part of our team, to walk throughout the night or to make a donation. The Relay for Life Event will be on May 7-8 at Memorial Stadium in Frisco. Russell Hankins is the 2010 Coordinator and can be reached at russell_hankins@yahoo.com.
Susan G. Komen Foundation - 3-Day Team
The 3-Day Walk for the Cure benefiting the Foundation will take place November 5 - 7, 2010. Grace Avenue has a team of walkers who participate in the 60 mile walk over three days. Participants train several weeks prior to the event. For more information on the walk or on how you can join the 3 Day Team, contact Laurie Hanson Roberts at 972-335-2882 x510 or at lhr@graceavenue.org.
International Missions - Our church has three International Missions.
- The first connects us to the Czech Republic through our partner church Maranatha UMC located in Plzen. Every year, we send a mission team to share in ministry with our brothers and sisters in Christ at Holy Hill and our partner church.
- We also sponsor the God’s Child Project in Guazapa, El Salvador which serves the children in this poverty stricken area & helps them find God’s hope in their midst. For info, contact Laurie Hanson Roberts at lhr@graceavenue.org or 972-335-2882, ext 510. Guazapa Joe’s, a quarterly coffee house at Grace Avenue, supports this program.
- Our newest International Mission connects us with Zoe’s Ministry. We have a team traveling to Kenya in late January to learn more about how we can partner with orphaned families encouraging them to learn life skills and become more self-suffi cient in their communities. More information is available at zoeministry.org or you can contact Laura Echols-Richter at laura@graceavenue.org.
Last updated by nmijares on 7/29/2010