“We were started by what was then First Baptist Euless,” Teresa Grady, 6 Stones Mission Network chief operating officer said, explaining the meaning behind the nonprofit’s name.. “The church was $6 million dollars in debt. Every time they paid off a million dollars they put a big stone in the courtyard until they paid off the debt. They paid off their debt and money kept coming in.”
The set up
6 Stones became a nonprofit in 2009. The organization offers a food pantry, soccer program, mentoring opportunities, school supplies donations and a home repair program they call Community Powered Revitalization.
Grady said Grapevine mayor pro tem Darlene Freed took note of what 6 Stones was offering and was particularly interested in bringing the home repair component to Grapevine.
In 2019, the first Grapevine resident was helped by 6 Stones’ repair program.
“6 Stones has been a great asset to our city by helping identify those in need of help with their homes, many of which have lived in their homes for 50+ years, qualifying them so that they meet the criteria to participate in the CPR program, and organizing and managing the CPR program,” Freed said in an email. “It’s a great asset to the entire community.”
Who it’s for
To qualify for a 6 Stones home repair project, the household income cannot exceed 80% of the area median income, Grady said.
“If the area median income is $50,000, we’d take someone making $45,000 or less,” she said.
They must also meet one of the following requirements as well: 62 years old or older, handicapped, disabled, veteran, spouse of a veteran or single parent with a child living at home.
The city of Grapevine receives the applications and vets the applicants. Once approved by the city, 6 Stones receives the application and if the project is accepted, a 6 Stones representative will visit with the applicant and create a list of projects.
“We find the homeowners are too afraid to ask for too much because they are afraid they won’t get it so they say, ‘This tree needs to be cut down,’ then [we] will look at the house and see it needs work as well,” Grady said. “We will do everything we can do on a house if the homeowner is willing.”
The specifics
Grady said home repair projects include any upkeep needed on the exterior of a house such as replacing rotted wood and siding, painting, roof and tree work, building ramps and more.
Throughout the year, volunteers are paired with skilled industry volunteers to work on homes. There are also bi-annual blitz events where hundreds of volunteers are deployed to multiple homes in Grapevine to tackle tasks on the homeowners’ lists.
Get involved
Thus far, 6 Stones has completed projects in 36 homes in Grapevine. Grady said the nonprofit would like to raise awareness in Grapevine and increase the number of residents served. They also need volunteers - those with industry skills and those who are willing to learn. Financial and in-kind donations are always welcome.
Quote of note
“The CPR program benefits those in our community who are unable to maintain their properties due to health issues, being alone and/or any other obstacles they may be facing that affects their ability to take care of the outside of their homes,” Freed said. “Over the years, we’ve had folks from the neighborhood of the house(s) we’re working on who see us there, come out and volunteer to help someone who lives in their neighborhood.”
- 3232 West Euless Parkway, Euless
- www.6stones.org
