Maybe Grace Klein Community has impacted you in some way over the years, but you have been hesitant to come close. You felt loved at that one event or that time you needed a pair of shoes, but how do you join in today? Or maybe you gave money to sponsor a food box and toothpaste for that Grace Klein Community team to distribute in Belize?

But how do you show up and serve? People say “come on” or “stop by anytime,” but the unstructured structure of that feels a little intimidating and scary. Maybe you even drive by and see people in the driveway, laughing and talking, and think, “one day I am turning in and being a part of whatever that is.”

One of our servant leaders is Debbie Griffin. God reminded her of Grace Klein Community on a “just so happened to be bad day” when she felt discouraged and alone; so she decided to show up. On that day, we received cases and cases of donated apples and she was helping unload the truck. They were all beautiful and she decided she was going to take some to work to share with her co-workers. The next thing she realized, she was having a great day, making new friends, celebrating God’s provision and laughing.

She may have been one of those people in the driveway laughing, that day you drove past and wanted to join in! And if she could talk to you, she would probably tell you, “come on! Grace Klein Community is a family and you are invited! Come as you are, you are free to be you!”

One day you may find Debbie sorting cucumbers. She has learned from other volunteers to give the best, even if it means she gets covered in cucumber juice and stinks when she goes home. She’s sorting with love because she wants the families who need and receive the food to feel cherished, precious and loved.

Maybe she’s in the box truck, riding with Giorgio and Monica, to help pick up some rescued food. She is full of life, enjoying the adventure of the right now, and even running into an old friend when she stops in at a gas station for a soda. She is family. Grace Klein means a little gift from God. She is Grace Klein.

Have you heard her broccoli story? She decided to give out some of the beautiful broccoli florets that came. A lady pulled up beside her and asked, “you selling?!” She said, “no, I am giving!” The lady was shocked. She told Debbie that her boyfriend and her were talking that morning about how good it would be to eat some broccoli and here Debbie was giving her broccoli. What a beautiful picture of God’s intimate and personal love for that woman. Debbie did not know they talked about broccoli. Debbie did not know this woman. But Debbie had the privilege to be the hands and feet of Jesus to hand the broccoli to that dear woman. God used Debbie to love a stranger with a bag of broccoli.

Did you see all the Christmas gifts that donors provided for forgotten people all over Birmingham? The irony is – when we remember the forgotten, they are not forgotten anymore! Debbie was one of the gift wrappers that made every gift look beautiful. She helped host the wrapping party at Galleria Woods and took boxes and boxes of gifts to and from her house as she helped wrap for weeks. Maybe you did not see her, but she was loving many people as she wrapped children’s bibles, candles, scarves, toys, etc. She was remembering the forgotten.

Debbie is a helper. She sees the need and she’s there, helping in the capacity that she can help. She’s smiling. She is learning the names of the rest of the family. She is listening to their stories. She is noticing strangers. She is standing by the broken. She is gentle and trustworthy. She makes us better!

The other day she rescued some old furniture. She did not know who may need what, but she knew someone would. She was thinking of the family. Then a need showed up on Acts 4:32 about some dining room chairs and you guessed it, she had them. She was ready to serve and meet the need, because she is living her days thinking of others. How cool is Debbie!?!!

That girl Debbie Griffin, she took the risk, she pulled in the driveway and chose to be a part of the family. She came in and asked what she could do. And she gave. She hasn’t stopped. We doubt she ever will!

Maybe Grace Klein Community has impacted you in some way over the years, but you have been hesitant to come close. You felt loved at that one event or that time you needed a pair of shoes, but how do you join in today? Or maybe you gave money to sponsor a food box and toothpaste for that Grace Klein Community team to distribute in Belize?

But how do you show up and serve? People say “come on” or “stop by anytime,” but the unstructured structure of that feels a little intimidating and scary. Maybe you even drive by and see people in the driveway, laughing and talking, and think, “one day I am turning in and being a part of whatever that is.”

One of our servant leaders is Debbie Griffin. God reminded her of Grace Klein Community on a “just so happened to be bad day” when she felt discouraged and alone; so she decided to show up. On that day, we received cases and cases of donated apples and she was helping unload the truck. They were all beautiful and she decided she was going to take some to work to share with her co-workers. The next thing she realized, she was having a great day, making new friends, celebrating God’s provision and laughing.

She may have been one of those people in the driveway laughing, that day you drove past and wanted to join in! And if she could talk to you, she would probably tell you, “come on! Grace Klein Community is a family and you are invited! Come as you are, you are free to be you!”

One day you may find Debbie sorting cucumbers. She has learned from other volunteers to give the best, even if it means she gets covered in cucumber juice and stinks when she goes home. She’s sorting with love because she wants the families who need and receive the food to feel cherished, precious and loved.

Maybe she’s in the box truck, riding with Giorgio and Monica, to help pick up some rescued food. She is full of life, enjoying the adventure of the right now, and even running into an old friend when she stops in at a gas station for a soda. She is family. Grace Klein means a little gift from God. She is Grace Klein.

Have you heard her broccoli story? She decided to give out some of the beautiful broccoli florets that came. A lady pulled up beside her and asked, “you selling?!” She said, “no, I am giving!” The lady was shocked. She told Debbie that her boyfriend and her were talking that morning about how good it would be to eat some broccoli and here Debbie was giving her broccoli. What a beautiful picture of God’s intimate and personal love for that woman. Debbie did not know they talked about broccoli. Debbie did not know this woman. But Debbie had the privilege to be the hands and feet of Jesus to hand the broccoli to that dear woman. God used Debbie to love a stranger with a bag of broccoli.

Did you see all the Christmas gifts that donors provided for forgotten people all over Birmingham? The irony is – when we remember the forgotten, they are not forgotten anymore! Debbie was one of the gift wrappers that made every gift look beautiful. She helped host the wrapping party at Galleria Woods and took boxes and boxes of gifts to and from her house as she helped wrap for weeks. Maybe you did not see her, but she was loving many people as she wrapped children’s bibles, candles, scarves, toys, etc. She was remembering the forgotten.

Debbie is a helper. She sees the need and she’s there, helping in the capacity that she can help. She’s smiling. She is learning the names of the rest of the family. She is listening to their stories. She is noticing strangers. She is standing by the broken. She is gentle and trustworthy. She makes us better!

The other day she rescued some old furniture. She did not know who may need what, but she knew someone would. She was thinking of the family. Then a need showed up on Acts 4:32 about some dining room chairs and you guessed it, she had them. She was ready to serve and meet the need, because she is living her days thinking of others. How cool is Debbie!?!!

That girl Debbie Griffin, she took the risk, she pulled in the driveway and chose to be a part of the family. She came in and asked what she could do. And she gave. She hasn’t stopped. We doubt she ever will!