G.R.A.C.E. Girls

Grace Episcopal Church	G.R.A.C.E. Girls Girls Receiving Afterschool Care & Enrichment In 2006 the Social Concerns Commission of Grace Episcopal Church decided that they wanted to become more hands on in addressing the needs of our community. The Commission participated in a yearlong study (interviewing community leaders, law enforcement, school officials, government officials, non profit providers, etc) to discern areas that were not being addressed or ones that needed additional support. After much study, conversation, input from the congregation, and deliberation, one area to emerge was middle school youth (particularly 6^th graders and specifically at risk girls). In 2007 the Social Concerns Commission endorsed piloting an after school enrichment program whose mission was to provide a safe and nurturing environment for at-risk middle school girls. Through this program, the girls would experience enrichment activities provided by volunteers, and have an opportunity to not only learn new skills, but also to have positive interactions with adults in our community. The program is funded by the Social Concerns Commission allocations and provides for one teacher, bus transportation to and from the church, and supplies. The program director, snack coordinator and providers, enrichment leaders, and the advocacy board are all volunteers. The G.R.A.C.E. program serves 15-16 6^th grade girls a year and meets at least 16 sessions a semester. Part of the program is a summer enrichment trip funded completely by donations from the community/church members and fundraisers by the girls. This provides the girls new experiences, a broader vision of the world and themselves, and lasting friendships. We currently receive donations from individuals throughout the year who are aware of the annual trip and want to support it. The girls are chaperoned by 4 volunteer leaders. An outgrowth of G.R.A.C.E. Girls is the “grace giving back program” established in 2009 to provide past grace girls continued fellowship and an opportunity to give back to our community. The format is 4 yearly dinner meetings to plan and participate in outreach projects locally and globally. Volunteer leaders lead this program and dinner is donated. The girls raise any financial support that is needed to help with projects. Click here to see photos	Mission Statement The mission of G.R.A.C.E. is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for at-risk adolescent girls. Through this program, the girls experience enrichment activities provided by volunteers, and have the opportunity to not only learn new skills, but also to have positive interactions with adults in our community.
G.R.A.C.E. Girls’ 2011 Fall Semester Enrichment Activities September 22: Enrichment-Orientation-Jennifer and Lisa Snack-Nancy Phillips September 27: Games-Jennifer and Lisa Snack-Anne Rives September 29: Cooking Class-Basic Food Groups-Melissa Darr Woven Bracelets-Lisa Snack-Pam Alley October 4: Spoken Word Workshop-Antoinette Kerr Snack-Sally Lang/Stella Cappel October 6: Spoken Word Workshop-Antoinette Kerr Snack-Tere Wagner October 11: Yoga-Mary Bolstad Snack-Carol Jordan October 13: Stick Weaving-Lisa Snack-Sandra Husted October 18: Cooking Class-Harvest Products-Melissa Darr Snack-Martha Adams/Betty Lopp October 20: Movie Day-Jennifer Snack-Libby Sink/Kay Timberlake October 25: Pumpkin Lanterns-Lisa Snack-Peggy Walser October 27: Halloween Fun-Julie Dayvault/Dottie McGirt Snack-Julie/Dottie November 1: Paint your own Pottery-Mission Pottery Snack-Martha Ellen Smith November 3: Sewing Project-Whitney Brooks Snack: Linda Cox November 8: Drama Workshop-Pam Harvey Snack-Cameron Miller November 15: Spin Class-Brooke Williams Snack-Page Onorato November 17: Ribbon Wreaths-Kim Leonard Snack-Christy Hamrick
		G.R.A.C.E. Giving Back G.R.A.C.E. Giving Back is for girls who have graduated from the G.R.A.C.E. Girls’ after-school program and want to stay connected to their friends and active in our community! We meet four nights during the year for dinner and a program or activity to help out others. Goals for 2010-2011: The girls met on September 20th and established their goals for this year: 1. On November 29th the girls will to to the Father’s Storehouse in Thomasville and stock shelves for this community resource. 2. Support the Nyanya Project in Africa 3. Host a spring party for children from the shelter or Positive Wellness families 4. Participate in Touching Davidson County with Love 5. Make vases to sell to support G.R.A.C.E. Girls summer trip and outreach project Next Meeting: October 3 at 6 to discuss outreach projects for 2011-2012 Outreach Projects from 2009-2010: Made lasagnas for Sunday lunches at Grace Church Held a Bake Sale with money going to purchase and send infant supplies to an African orphanage Raised $250 from Cookbook Sales for Haitian Medical Clinic Participated in Touching Davidson County with Love by preparing Kiddie Kamp
	How can you help? G.R.A.C.E. Girls need volunteers from the community to provide enrichment activities. We also need volunteers to provide snacks as well as extra hands to help with activities. This is a great way to share a talent and be a Mentor to youth in our community. Donations are always welcome to help cover costs for materials, transportation, and summer enrichment programs. To help or find out more, contact Lisa Timberlake at lisabt@lexcominc.net or call Grace Episcopal Church at 249-7211. Summer Enrichment Trips Every summer the G.R.A.C.E. Girls take a Summer Enrichment trip to a place that they may not otherwise have been able to travel. The past trips have been: 2007 -- Kennedy Space Center and Disneyworld 2008 -- Carowinds 2009 -- NC Mountains and Appalachian State University 2010 -- Penn Center in St. Helena, SC 2011 -- Washington, DC by train - visited the Holocaust Museum, National Cathedral, Smithsonian, Capital Building and the White House. Article from Grace Vine about GRACE Girls Summer Enrichment Trip Fundraisers G.R.A.C.E. Girls Cookbook The G.R.A.C.E. Girls completed a cookbook project last spring in an effort to raise money for their yearly summer enrichment trip and to support a medical clinic effort in Haiti. Each cookbook is filled with recipes from the girls and the volunteers who prepare after-school snacks for them each week! The cookbooks are on sale now for $5 each! Contact Lisa Timberlake at lisabt@lexcominc.net for delivery. Cookbooks can also be purchased at Pandora’s Book Store on 2nd Avenue.