Every act of service begins with a simple “yes.” For some, that yes means spending a Saturday morning packing food. For others, it means delivering groceries, sorting donations, or teaching a class. But for many who volunteer with Ministries of Grace, that yes becomes something even greater. It becomes a lifelong commitment to making sure hope continues. See how your End-of-Year Giving gift keeps that mission alive.

Serving That Changes Perspective

It happens often. A volunteer comes to serve for the first time, expecting to give a few hours of help, but walks away changed.

At Meals by Grace, volunteers stand shoulder to shoulder, filling boxes with food for families in need. They see the names of real people on each label and realize these are not statistics. They are neighbors. They are children who go to school hungry, parents who skip meals so their kids can eat, and grandparents trying to stretch fixed incomes.

That moment of connection shifts something inside. Compassion turns into conviction. Volunteers begin to see that giving their time is powerful, but sustaining that mission through generosity can reach even more families.

A Story That Keeps Giving

One retired volunteer began serving with Meals by Grace after hearing about the need through her church. She wanted to do something meaningful with her extra time and decided to help deliver food.

Each week, she met families who greeted her with gratitude and relief. What started as a simple act of service soon became a personal mission. She got to know the parents, learned the children’s names, and began praying for them between visits.

After seeing how quickly the shelves emptied each week, she decided to do more. She became a monthly donor through The Bridge, knowing her giving would help keep the shelves stocked long after her deliveries were done.

“I realized my time made a difference, but my giving could help even when I wasn’t there,” she shared. “Now I get to do both.”

From Hands That Serve to Hearts That Give

The volunteers who serve through Grace Cares and Graceworks see transformation firsthand. They help distribute clothing to families who have lost everything. They mentor students preparing for job interviews. They celebrate when a parent gets a better-paying job or when a child runs out to help unload boxes.

Volunteering opens eyes to what generosity can do. Donating opens the door to do even more.

1 Peter 4:10 reminds us, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” That is the heartbeat of Ministries of Grace — people using their gifts, whether time, talent, or treasure, to multiply grace in the lives of others.

Why End-of-Year Giving Matters for Volunteers

Many volunteers choose to make their End-of-Year Giving gift during December because they have seen the need up close. They have watched the shelves empty as food goes out faster than it comes in. They have heard the stories of parents who needed help just to get through one more week.

That firsthand experience makes giving deeply personal. It’s no longer just about charity. It’s about community.

When volunteers become donors, they help sustain the very programs they believe in. Their giving ensures that Meals by Grace can keep feeding, that Grace Cares can keep supporting, and that Graceworks can keep training.

How You Can Be Part of the Heartbeat

Whether you have served for years or are just hearing about Ministries of Grace for the first time, you can be part of this heartbeat of compassion.

Here is how you can join others who serve and give:

• Volunteer your time at one of our upcoming service days.
• Give a one-time donation to help meet urgent needs this season.https://www.bible.com/bible/111/GAL.6.9.NIV
• Join The Bridge to sustain the mission every month of the year.
• Invite a friend to serve with you and show them what community in action looks like.

A Legacy of Service and Generosity

Volunteers are the foundation of Ministries of Grace. They are the hands that pack the food, the hearts that pray for families, and the reason hope continues to grow. When volunteers also become donors, the impact multiplies beyond measure.

Your End-of-Year Giving gift keeps that heartbeat strong. It ensures that love, compassion, and service will continue echoing across North Georgia for years to come.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Your generosity keeps good things growing.