‘Tis the Season! The very thought brings joy to families across North Texas! But it can also cause anxiety for families who are struggling to make ends meet this holiday season. Fortunately, there is hope for these families at the Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange (GRACE) Christmas Cottage.
GRACE recently kicked off their annual Christmas Cottage toy drive at Park Place Lexus Grapevine with a spirited event featuring singer Fanci Collins and a sneak peek at the 2023 Lexus RX 350 and NX Sport Utility Vehicles.
“We have partnered with GRACE for 10 years to help families in our community,” said Charles Owen, Park Place Lexus Grapevine general manager. “This is a wonderful event that ensures children in our community have a Christmas to remember. GRACE makes it easy to give back.”
Guests enjoyed bacon-wrapped shrimp in a poblano cream sauce, beef and chicken quesadillas with an assortment of mini desserts by Mi Cocina; tomato caprese, rigatoni bolognese and tiramisu from Brio; and arancini risotto bites, bacon-wrapped dates, and hummus shooters by Ferah Tex-Med restaurants at Southlake Town Square. A selection of beer, wine and cocktails set the festive mood, including a specialty drink, the Tipsy L, created with Maker's Mark, orange juice, cranberry juice and maple syrup.
Park Place Members and guests donated enough new toys and games to fill several large Lexus SUVs for the GRACE Christmas Cottage.
Early the next morning, volunteers from Park Place delivered the toys and spent several hours helping organize items at the Christmas Cottage.
Through the GRACE Christmas Cottage, each qualified family is given a hypothetical “budget” that allows parents to “purchase” donated toys, home goods and appliances in a private, store-like setting. This approach allows families to budget their resources and select unique presents while preserving the family’s dignity. Over 2,500 individuals and families are served at Christmas Cottage each holiday season.
This year, the Christmas Cottage is located at 2550 SW Grapevine Parkway, Suite 150 in Grapevine. The annual Christmas Cottage Open House will be Tuesday, December 6, 2022. To make a monetary donation to the GRACE Christmas Holiday Fund, go to gracegrapevine.org.
Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth and Dallas, and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com.