Missions
Opportunities to Serve
Our Mission Programs
5th Sunday Missions
Each 5th Sunday of the month, we participate in special mission projects and host a blood drive. These 5th Sunday Missions keep us regularly engaged in service for our community.
Summer Lunch
Summer Lunch provides lunches for children in the Preston on the Lake Community of Little Elm throughout the summer months. This runs all summer long and relies on volunteers & donations from our church.
- Packing Parties
- Daily Volunteers
- Food Donations
- Backpack & Supplies
- Donations
**Please note that our Grace Avenue Summer Lunch program is different than our week of Frisco Family Services Summer Lunch. You can read about this partnership below under “Mission Partners.”
Welcome With Grace
Ensuring that those coming to our community from other countries can find a sense of belonging in their new home.
- ESL Program – We offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced adult English classes for those needing to improve their English skills. We also offer citizenship classes for those preparing to take the United States Citizenship Exam. Classes are open to the community and free of charge. Free children’s ESL support & childcare are provided during class times.
- Welcome Team – works to supply apartment furnishings and other necessities to refugee families in North Texas
- Dallas Responds – we partner with Dallas Responds and Oak Lawn UMC to assist with migrants arriving in the Dallas area on an “as needed” basis. We will communicate needs via social media and email as they arise.
Waves of Grace (Emergency Response)
We are often called to love and serve our neighbors during the most devastating circumstances. Natural disasters and humanitarian crises have the potential to demonstrate both the worst and the best of humanity. As part of our Mission to eradicate homelessness in whatever form it presents itself, Grace Avenue is committed to responding to these events with Waves of Grace.
- Prayer – As we watch humanitarian crises unfold around our world, it is easy to feel helpless and disconnected, but as people of faith we are not hopeless. As a community of faith connected to God’s broader family, prayer is one way we can all reach out. Prayer connects us to God and to one another.
- Early Response Training – Our Early Response Teams are the first who are allowed to offer assistance in the wake of disasters. Being certified in advance is the best way to prepare for when the time comes. To learn how when the next training is, contact Keri Keck at keri@graceavenue.org.
- Additional info as needs arise
Our Mission Partners
Building the Bridges Community Services
Grace Avenue is proud to partner with Building the Bridges Community Services as they work with Little Elm ISD to operate resources at the Colin Powell Community Center in Little Elm. Our Director of Missions & Community Resources, Keri Keck, is also the Executive Director of Building the Bridges and offices out of the Colin Powell Center part of the week.
In addition to offering financial support and connection to resources, BTBCS runs the following programs:
Feed My Sheep Food Pantry – Wednesdays
- GROCERY PICKUP: 7:45-9:00am
- PACKING FOOD BOXES: 9:00-11:00am
- DISTRIBUTION: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Little Elm ISD Clothing Closet – Thursdays | 9:30-11:30am & 12:30-2:30pm
Buttons & Bows Foster Closet – 2nd Saturdays | 9:00-11:00am
As opportunities to serve through these programs with BTBCS arise, information can be found at graceavenue.org/volunteer.
To learn more about Building the Bridges Community Services, head to their website at btbcs.org.
Frisco Helpers
Frisco Helpers is a group of senior adult volunteers sponsored by local churches to help senior and special needs citizens with minor home maintenance, with a key focus on safety.
The volunteers meet at Grace Avenue UMC every Thursday morning at 8:15am to coordinate the day’s projects. If you’d like to serve with them, contact David Coles at decoles047@gmail.com to get involved.
To learn more about Frisco Helpers, head to their website at friscohelpers.org.
Frisco Family Services
Grace Avenue partners with Frisco Family Services to provide lunch and lead games for students in Frisco ISD for one week each summer. As opportunities to serve in this program arise, you can find that information at graceavenue.org/volunteer.
To learn more about Frisco Family Services, head to their website at friscofamilyservices.org.
Carter BloodCare
Every 5th Sunday for Missions Sunday, Grace Avenue hosts the Carter Blood Care bus for a blood drive from 8:00am – 1:00pm. Giving takes about 45 minutes and can save up to 3 lives! As these blood drives are scheduled, you can find the sign up link and information to help you prepare for your donation at graceavenue.org/volunteer.
For more information about Carter BloodCare, head to carterbloodcare.org.
Refresh
Grace Avenue is proud to be an ongoing donation site for Refresh. You can drop off donations of full-size, new, and unopened hygiene products, laundry detergent, and beauty supplies at the church’s front office. These donations will be distributed by Refresh to local students to ensure that each child feels clean and confident.
To learn more about Refresh Frisco and the products they are currently most in need of, head to refreshntx.org.
Frisco Fastpacs
Grace Avenue is proud to be an ongoing donation site for Frisco Fastpacs. You can drop off donations of single-serving, shelf-stable, easy-open, and microwavable donations at the church’s front office. The donations will be packaged and distributed by Frisco Fastpacs to local students to ensure that kids in our community stay fed.
To learn more about Frisco Fastpacs and the foods they are currently most in need of, head to friscofastpacs.org
As opportunities come up, you can find ways to serve with these organizations at graceavenue.org/volunteer
