Mentoring builds meaningful connections between children and adults, fostering love, acceptance, and encouragement that positively impact school, home, and community life. Research links student mentoring to improved academic, social, and economic outcomes. Friends of Westchase unites schools, churches, businesses, and individuals to strengthen the community through relationships. School mentors spend about 30 minutes with elementary or middle school students, offering consistent support to those facing academic, behavioral, or home challenges. Training is provided with activities, talking points, and games to build connection.

Mentoring will begin in early October. Training and campus orientation are offered in September and January. Please consider joining our mentoring program this fall at one of our three partner schools:

Paul Revere Middle School (10502 Briar Forest Drive, Houston, TX 77042)
One-on-One Mentoring for sixth grade and eighth grade students
Wednesdays or Thursdays
30 minutes during lunch
School Coordinator: Tammy Box 

Walnut Bend Elementary School (10602 Briar Forest Drive, Houston, TX 77042)
Group mentoring with a group of 3 or 4 fourth–fifth grade students
Tuesdays–Thursday
30 minutes during lunch
School Coordinator: Debbie Kaplan

Emerson Elementary School
9533 Skyline Drive, Houston, TX 77063
One-on-One Mentoring for third–fifth grade students
Monday–Friday
30 minutes during lunch
School Coordinator: Becky Sikes 

Steps to mentoring:

Step 1: Apply to mentor or request more information by contacting Kristy Elmore.

Step 2: Complete background check, safety training, and the HISD Volunteer Application

Step 3: Attend orientation on September 23, 11 a.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church Massey-Tucker Hall

Step 4: Begin meeting with students in early October

September 27: Blessing Emerson Elementary
Grace will come together on Saturday, September 27, to clean up the courtyard, plant fall colors and bless the students and teachers at Emerson Elementary! Join us for a day of fellowship and serving. Through this ministry, we hope to share Christ’s love in practical ways, build relationships, and remind our educators, students and families that they are seen and loved. If you can help out, please contact Kristy Elmore.

October 25: Helping Hands for Our Grace Family
Do you have a small project around the house or yard that could use an extra pair of hands? Maybe some light repairs, technology help, moving boxes, or yardwork? Our Saturday Serve team is coming together this October to support covenant partners who may need an extra hand around the house! We have a team eager to help with those "odd jobs" that can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially for our more senior Covenant Partners. Through this ministry, we hope to share Christ's love in practical ways, strengthen relationships across generations, and remind one another that no one in our Grace family is alone. Whether it's helping with lawn work or doing some painting, we are ready to lend a hand. If you have a need or want to help out, please contact Kristy Elmore. Our team will be coming out on Saturday, October 25. Let's come together as a church family to serve one another in love!

Hurricane season has arrived and Houston is no stranger to these and other weather events.

As always, Grace’s Disaster Response Team, in partnership with The Restoration Team, are watching the weather, and we are ready to respond to any disasters that may impact our immediate area.

If disaster strikes, Grace's disaster response webpage is a place to let us know details:

• Please let us know if you have been impacted and need support

• Please let us know if you know of a friend or family member who needs support

• Please let us know if you are able to help others by volunteering your time.

MENtorUP is a wonderful opportunity for Grace men to broaden the horizons of Westchase-area middle school (and some high school) young men. A dedicated group of caring adult men meets monthly with 15 teen boys, building meaningful relationships through mentorship. Together, they do things as simple as sharing lunch or a game of basketball; or spend a little more time with one another as they explore college campuses, visit museums, attend events, and even a camping retreat to Georgia. Engaging in these experiences inspire their dreams and shape their futures. To get involved, contact Kristy Elmore today.

As you may be aware, Grace has a Disaster Response Team that monitors events which may impact our Grace family. Here is how the process works:

If such an event occurs, we want to be prepared, as a Grace community, to come together and support one another. Once a disaster response is initiated, Grace deacons are responsible for contacting each Covenant Partner household to determine whether any members of the household have been impacted. The protocol is to establish contact with at least one adult in each household to ascertain their status and assess any potential needs. The information gathered is then communicated to the Disaster Response Team for triage and appropriate response.

If a deacon is unable to reach any adults in the household, the next step is to reach out to an emergency contact—an adult who does not live in the household but would likely know your status during an emergency. It would be a tremendous help to our deacons if you would provide an emergency contact for our database using the form found HERE. The information will only be shared with members of the Disaster Response Team.