Dear 2023 Graces of Gurley Supporter,
We can’t thank you enough for your support in furthering the ministry of Graces in our poor rural section of Madison County. Please know that your contributions of time and money have an impact on the ways that we work toward building stronger, healthier relationships in our community. Each day is a struggle for so many single parents, grandparents, and guardians of the children we serve through our programs. We interact daily with moms without family support, without the skills for meaningful work, and without hope who are trapped in survival mode while their children are set to continue in generational poverty without the relationships and resources that Graces provides. As we love on the children and their families with the heart of Jesus, we offer hope, encouragement, and a helping hand. None of this would be possible without the 300+ volunteers and your financial contributions that enable this organization to point individuals toward spiritual, personal, and hopefully professional growth.
2023 saw an increase in the need for our programs and services in the Gurley area. As the economy has struggled, we are seeing large impacts on the families we serve. We currently meet at three separate locations which is taxing on our limited staff, and we’ve had to restrict the number of children and programs we provide due to space constraints. When we began Jacob’s Ladder in 2018 we served 5 boys. In 2023 we served 60+ students and now have children on a waiting list. These space limitations have hindered our ability to best serve the community at large. Looking forward, as our programs grow, we hope to find a new physical home that will afford us the freedom and location to expand our offering and provide a community space that we can use to not only provide more educational and community-building opportunities but to also partner with other organizations and churches in Gurley.
Please consider joining us in 2024 to meet the spiritual, personal, and professional needs of our neighbors in Gurley.
Most sincerely,
Denise Howard, Executive Director
A message from our Board President
“Over the last 6 years of my involvement in Graces, I have enjoyed watching the organization shift and grow to meet the ever-changing needs of the Gurley community. Reflecting on 2023, I continue to see the same dedication to humbly being the hands and feet of Jesus. As we look ahead to 2024, we do so with excitement and optimism about the things to come: adding families to our community, building new relationships, growing our partnerships, and finding a larger place to call our home to better serve the community at large. We appreciate all the time and resources our wonderful volunteers, donors, staff, and board members put toward Graces of Gurley. Thank you for partnering with us.”
Brett Maxey, Graces of Gurley Board President
