GRACE grateful for outpouring of support after arson fire

Thanks to a generous outpouring of support, faith-based charity GRACE is recovering nicely from a Feb. 12 arson fire that destroyed more than half of its donations.

“It’s been wonderful,” said Shonda Schaefer, GRACE executive director.

Since word spread about the fire at their Donation Station, the community has rallied. Several events, including a GRACE After Fire Community Rally held at their GRACE Main building and featuring local county music icon Rocky Gribble, have helped beef up the charity’s coffers.

While Schaefer said it’s impossible to determine the exact amount because monies may not have been directly tied to the fire, she said the community has been more than generous.

All donations received at the Feb. 21 rally that drew more than 200 people were earmarked for advancing the mission and recovery efforts of GRACE, a nonprofit relief agency that provides food, clothing, medical care, financial assistance, housing and other vital items to those in need.

The fundraiser was one of the brightest spots in their recovery efforts.

“We wanted to bring the community together to rebuild and rejoice the strengthening of our resolve,” Schaefer said.

The Donation Station was only closed for one week and is back operating at 100 percent. Storage space is still limited until a replacement storage container can be obtained.

Projects completed include: volunteer clean up completed, processing equipment replaced, burned out container removed, video camera replaced, lighting replaced, three new container/sheds purchased and BNSF delivered a new storage container.

Donations for the day’s event included Alford Media Services, stage and sound; caterer Jerry Jones, brisket for 200; Home Depot Southlake; Grapevine Craft Brewery, beer for 200; Hall’s Grocery, food sides for 200; Allied Waste- Services.

Major corporate gifts were given by Gateway Church; Colleyville Lions Club; Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation — mascot Rangers Captain was at the rally; Trinity Private Equity Group; Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers; Grapevine Fire Association; and The Asset Preservation Group.

Volunteer service included 400.75 hours and 137 volunteers. Donation Station cleanup on Feb. 14 included 97 community volunteers and 14 staffers. The rally included 26 staff and community volunteers.

Other donations have ranged from all walks of life to all ages.

Good friends JD Rice, 11, and Trey and Justin Leathers, 11 and 9 respectively, didn’t have any connection to GRACE, but heard about the charity’s arson woes and wanted to help.

“They were so sad about the GRACE fire,” said Terri Rice of her son and neighbors. “You’ve got to encourage your kids to give. You want kids with service hearts.”

They talked to their principal at Colleyville Elementary, Sheila Shimmick, and asked if they could do a fundraiser for Grace.

They created a charitable event called BrInG Change for GRACE.

The three boys figured that if the whole school participated by putting change in glass jars placed in every classroom, they could raise as much as $,3000. On Friday, they presented Schaefer with a check for $3,057 at the school.

“I’ve always been into helping charities,” said JD, whose charitable efforts have included lemonade stands for an orphanage in Haiti.

“I was surprised and really happy that we raised a lot of money for our goal.”

For nearly three decades, GRACE has striven to meet the most vital needs of its community. Donations have allowed GRACE help rebuild the lives of more than 5,000 people in need of food, clothing, education and shelter each year, organizers said.

The reason for the celebration was a somber one. On Feb. 12, a fire broke out in one of the portable buildings at the donation station at 112 N. Scribner St.

The fire was reported shortly before 9 p.m., causing an estimated $75,000 damage to portable buildings, a shipping storage container and bins filled with donations.

Surveillance video at GRACE showed two people entering the secured fenced complex during a burglary. After awhile, a fire started in a portable building. Firefighters knocked down the flames in just over 10 minutes and no injuries were reported. Two arrests were made in the case.

GRACE spokeswoman Heather Ortner said that since the fire, the charity has seen “a renewed interest in community engagement, which is invaluable.”

“People seem to be re-energized to further our mission, and more people have expressed an interest in investing their time and resources through volunteering,” Ortner said.

This story was originally published April 7, 2015 at 10:02 AM with the headline "GRACE grateful for outpouring of support after arson fire."