Happy Birthday GRIP! The Greater Richmond Interfaith Program is 50 years old GRIP was founded as an interfaith, multiracial coalition to address the issues of human dignity, and social justice in Contra Costa County. Most of the original 43 congregations still participate in working with the organization today by preparing lunches and dinners daily. Civic leaders, labor and business partners joined GRIP’s largest fund raising event – the Harmony Walk this past October to raise funds to support this community organization. GRIP has created and “spun off” many programs serving the greater Richmond community. Some of these are: Richmond Emergency Food Pantry, West County Rape & Crisis Center, West County Adult Day Care Center, Souper Center (over 90,000 meals served per year), Harmony Walk, Emergency Winter Shelter, Multi Congregational Breast Cancer Partnership, Contra Costa Asthma Coalition, and the HPRP Prevention Program. The organization has come a long ways to help the community. A little over 10 years ago, it opened a new building for lunches which also included a family shelter with 75 beds. And in 2011, it was awarded a 2 year First Five Grant to provide child development screening referrals and case management and parent support which included parenting classes. Today under the leadership of Arthur Hatchett and a Board of Trustees made up of congregations, corporate sponsors and community leaders. GRIP provides the opportunity for diverse groups to work together with mutual respect and a deep commitment to heal the world around us. Happy Birthday GRIP! For more information, go to their website at gripcommunity.org. 70 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM DECEMBER 2016 By Dorothy Hertzberg
Contra Costa Marketplace - Dec 2016
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