Share Christ’s Love… with others through Service

Bread Run – Jesus said, “Feed my sheep….”
Each week Grace Avenue volunteers respond to this call by taking day old bread from Target to the Austin Street Centre or the Samaritan Inn.  Every Tuesday and Thursday a volunteer from our church takes boxes of day old bread & other items that Target donates and delivers them to the Samaritan Inn in McKinney.  Samaritan Inn is the only emergency shelter in Collin County.  Every Saturday, members from our church take additional Target donations to Austin Street Centre in Dallas which houses 400 homeless men, women & children each night offering them breakfast & dinner each day.  Grace Avenue volunteers deliver an average of 100 boxes a month to these 2 shelters.  If you would like to volunteer, sign up in the Black folders or contact Carla at carlab@gomarquis.com

Bingo at Prairie Estates every Saturday!
Join us any Saturday morning at 9:00am as we play Bingo with the residents at Prairie Estates, a skilled nursing facility close to the church.  This is a great opportunity for individuals and/or families to volunteer together.  We also need BINGO prize donations including hand lotion, socks/slippers, granola bars, chapstick, pens & notepads, , tiny stuffed animals,  packs of cookies/crackers or brushes/combs.  A collection box for prizes in located in the Learning Center Lobby. For more info, contact Julie Foughty at 469-384-8344 or juliefoughty@yahoo.com

COVER GIRLS
Anyone can learn to crochet, knit, and quilt afghans, blankets, and booties, for Parkland Hospital, Red Cross, and local shelters.  We have volunteers who are eager to share their knowledge with you!  Join the Cover Girls every other month on the third Tuesday at 7:00 pm at the church.  Our Cover Girls group has delivered over 500 blankets to area hospitals.  For info, Call Lisa McDonald at 972-335-8815.      

Frisco Family Services
Grace Avenue adopts a shelf each month at Frisco Family Services.  The next time you are grocery shopping for your family, please pick up some extra items for families in our community who are in need.  Collection baskets are provide in both the Worship Center Narthex or the Learning Center Lobby.

January:  Baby food & formula

February:  Breakfast Foods:  cereal, muffin mixes, pancake mix & syrup

March:  Paper Goods:  paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, etc.

April:  Personal Hygiene Items:  soap, deodorant, feminine products, shampoo,

May:  1st Aid Items:  Band-Aids, first aid cream, etc.

SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM
We will be partnering with Frisco Family Services to provide lunches, crafts and activities for 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.  Our two weeks are June 30-July 3 and Aug 10-15.  Sign up in the black folders during worship if you’d like to help.

Second Saturdays of Service
The members of our church are always focused on the current needs of our church and our community.  Second Saturdays is a new program that we are beginning to help us connect with non-profit agencies in our community as well as provide assistance for those who need minor home repairs.  Watch for more details.  This program is set to begin Saturday, February 9th.

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 our efforts, please contact service@graceavenue.org.

3-Day Team for Susan G. Komen Foundation
Our Grace Avenue team, The Rack Pack, led by Laurie Hanson Roberts, is currently at 41 members!  For more info, contact Laurie Hanson Roberts at (972)335.2882 x510 or at lhr@graceavenue.org.  The walk is Nov 7-9.

International Missions
Our church has two International Missions.

1.  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. For more info, contact Charles or Lisa Hampshire at lisa@hampshirehouseproductions.com

2.  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.

Nothing but Nets Program
Nothing but Nets is a global grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of African children. Malaria can be prevented by sleeping under a pesticide treated bed net which can be provided for $10.  Join the fight by purchasing a net.  You may write a check, made payable to Grace Avenue with Nothing but Nets in the memo line or you can go to www.nothingbutnets.net and donate to the Grace Avenue team.  Our goal is to purchase one net per member at our church.  That is 1200 nets! Currently, we have purchased 450 nets! Help us by purchasing a net today!

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 including open dates for our Bread Run!  E-mail service@graceavenue.org if you are interested in being a part of any of the opportunities listed above.