Nonpro t
BY KAREN CHANEY
Grand Arts is a Grand Love program that assists in paying for after school classes.
COURTESY GRAND LOVE
Prosper residents Lena and Ray Smith founded Grand Love in 2022.
KAREN CHANEY COMMUNITY IMPACT
Grand Love assists grandparents raising grandchildren
Following 18 months of being empty nesters, long-time Prosper residents Lena and Ray Smith found themselves raising their two grandsons. Although ung into this unexpected life twist, the couple were determined to make the best of their situation. Who it’s for The Smiths launched Grand Love, a Prosper nonpro t, in 2022. “Grand Love’s mission is to create an awareness of the epidemic of grandparents raising grand- children, to o er programs to help enrich these grandchildren’s lives, and to come along beside these grandparents and put our arm around them and help them nancially with the extra expenses of raising these children,” Lena Smith said. Grand Love assists grandparents who live in Texas and earn $1,400 a month or less. A screening process is in place to verify the grandparent is legally raising at least one grandchild. “We’re adamant about doing our due diligence,” Lena Smith said. “If you’re giving us even $50 or $100—we want to be good stewards of that. We want you to feel good about giving us that money and know it’s going to those grandparents.” Regarding the “epidemic of grandparents raising grandchildren,” Lena Smith said in Texas there are currently over 266,000 grandparents raising grandkids today, and almost 24% of those fall below the poverty line. A variety of reasons lead to this
family dynamic including the opioid epidemic, incarceration and military deployment. “If you take on a foster child, you get $900 a month to help with that child. If you take on a kin- ship—niece, nephew, grandchild—you get nothing,” Lena Smith said. “There is no nancial assistance.” The setup Once approved as a Grand Family, continual programs are available including: Grand arts: grandchildren can explore creativity through free or reduced-price after-school classes. Grand summers: grandchildren can attend educa- tional and Christian summer camps through free or reduced price partnerships with local camps. Backpacks with love: grandparents are given the opportunity to choose school items from Amazon totaling $125. Additional programs pertain to community college scholarships, Christmas wish lists and professional services including medical and legal. Get involved Grand Love currently serves 200 Grand Families throughout Texas. Lena Smith said they need volunteer case managers and grant writers. She said nancial donations are always appreciated. Throughout the year, a variety of fundraisers are held including monthly bingo nights and Breakfast with Santa.
Grand Love provides support to grandparents raising grandchildren.
COURTESY GRAND LOVE
One of Grand Love’s programs is Backpacks with Love which provide kids with school supplies and a backpack.
COURTESY GRAND LOVE
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291 S. Preston Road, Ste. 930, Prosper www.grand-love.com
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PROSPER CELINA EDITION
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