Last-minute ways to give: Food pantries, parties still on

Rusty Thigpen, food pantry director, said GRACE (Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange) fed 512 families for Thanksgiving, and he expects roughly the same number for Christmas.

Businesses and individuals can donate $85 to feed Christmas dinner to a family of four, or they may donate food. Information: www.gracegrapevine.org.

To volunteer, call or email volunteer manager Jan Smith at 817-305-4653 or [email protected].

GRACE's Christmas Cottage, which provides toys for kids, has wrapped up for the year, but spokeswoman Jennifer Morisato said donations are accepted all year-round. Particularly needed every year: gift cards for teens and tweens.

Ho Ho Hoedown is the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce Women's Division's Dec. 20 fundraiser for students in the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District and the Grapevine Senior Citizens Christmas Spirit Fund.

The dinner with live music and dancing starts at 6 p.m. at Willhoite's, 432 S. Main St. in Grapevine. The bar/restaurant will be closed to the public and non-smoking.

Tickets are $45 for a meal and non-alcoholic beverage.

The Women's Division delivered hundreds of school supply packs to children in August.

Information: grapevinechamber.org.

Dancing for the Stars is the Colleyville Rotary Club's answer to both fundraising and a good time. The Feb. 23 event benefits the Grapevine-Colleyville Education Foundation and Rotary International Programs.

Area celebrities will be paired with dance instructors for one dance. No judges will be involved — those who attend will cast votes with donations.

Tickets, $75, cover a seated meal and wine or champagne.

Information: colleyvillerotaryclub.com.

GRACE needs

Most people think of giving around the holidays, but GRACE has to keep its pantry stocked for needy families all year-round.

For example, recent needs included:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Large (64-oz.) grape, pineapple or orange drinks
• 1-lb. packages of ground beef
• Tomato sauce and tomato paste
• Toothpaste
• Disposable razors
• Diapers

The food pantry maintains a regularly updated list of items that are low or out of stock at www.gracegrapevine.org.