UPDATE

2,933 children (with their families) attended this wonderful event.  It was a great day!

An Annual Tradition

On the Saturday before Easter each year, the Mission Arlington^® family hosts a giant Easter egg hunt, affectionately called the “World’s Largest.” No one can quite remember how long this fun-filled, family event has been on the calendar, but it has run non-stop each year, going back at least into the 1990s.  During the pandemic, for example, when gathering large groups wasn’t possible, we kept faith with this tradition by taking eggs out to homes, so that each family could host their own egg hunt safely and with much fun.

Dates & Times

The “World’s Largest” Easter egg hunt happens from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 30th.  The event is located outdoors, in the open field behind Grace Street Fellowship. Everyone is invited. Please bring your family and friends.

Fun for the Whole Family

This Easter egg hunt is open for all, and it is especially fun for families.  The event begins with the telling of the original Easter story. Afterwards, families sit around picnic tables to eat lunch outdoors.  Giant bouncy houses cover a large outdoor field, where children can jump and play.  Finally, we provide six-lanes of open field, with an arsenal of over 100,000 plastic Easter eggs, filled with candy.  Children (and their parents) have so much fun hunting for Easter eggs. Truly, this is an event which is  fun for the whole family .

Free of Charge

As with every Mission Arlington^® event, this one is also provided “free of charge.” There is no charge to attend the event, and no charge for anything happening within the event.

How you can help

You can bring plastic Easter eggs, and/or individually wrapped bags of candy to Mission Arlington^® anytime up to the day of the Egg Hunt.  Volunteers are also a great help. It takes “many hands” to make this event work.  If you, your family, and/or your team, would like to help, please give us a call at 817-704-6143.

We love working with children, and families.  Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). The Easter egg hunt is one of our favorite events of the year.  We hope to see you there!

Outdoor running games at a Rainbow Express from Spring Break 2023.

Building Steam

Though we had one group kick us off early with an outreach in February, Rainbow Express^® begins again in earnest this March, and we are so EXCITED!

This ministry is our version of a “back-yard Bible club,” with snacks, crafts, music, games, and Bible stories. Children are ready to be outside again, and this long-loved ministry of Mission Arlington^® has been (for 37 years) a persistent & positive encouragement to the young people of our community.  The number of student groups coming our way from across the country is on the rise, and we can’t wait to have them here, as they join us in sharing God’s love with this beautiful community.

Preparation & Prayer

The Mission family has been in prayer and preparation for Rainbow Express^® for some time.  Prayer for this ministry has been in our hearts and on our lips in multiple settings for the past several weeks. Our staff writes the curriculum in simple language children can comprehend, including crafts, and various teaching aids. Mission teams coming to serve receive our material weeks in advance and do their own preparation ahead of their trip.  Staff and volunteers here gather materials and prepare crafts ahead of time based on the need, so that everything will be ready once groups arrive.

Ready to Roll

The heart and soul of Rainbow Express is to communicate God’s love to children & teens in heartfelt, relevant, and practical ways.  We’re ready, and kickoff happens beginning in March.  We will gather children in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings, starting next month, and it will continue week after week through the Summer.  The Rainbow Express^® engine is building steam, and ready to roll out of the station. We can’t wait!

Last Year

17,846 children & youth attended Rainbow Express^® in 2023, held in 292 locations across our community. 326 young people accepted Christ.

Your Support

Please pray for the children & teens who come to listen & learn. Pray too, please, for the student groups who will give of themselves and their time to serve the Lord and to make a difference in our community. We are grateful for the privilege we have of walking this journey alongside each of you.

Mission Arlington’s “Front Room” is open from 8-5 Monday-Friday and 9-2 on Saturday. Appointments are not necessary, and there isn’t anything to fill out in advance. Come in when you can, and let’s see how we can help.

The need in our community has been increasing over the last year.

More and more, ordinary people are finding themselves needing a little help to get by.  We are so grateful for the privilege we have of serving in this place, alongside each of you, who give so much to help people in need.

Here are some statistics from our “Emergency Assistance” arena in 2023:

1. 195,972 people received food, clothes, household items, and furniture in 2023.
2. This represents 56,584 families. 
3. 655 people a day came through our front doors for help.
4. This number represents a 16 percent increase in the number of people needing help compared to 2022.

By God’s Grace & With Your Support

We are grateful to the Lord for His provision. We know that “every good gift comes from above” (James 1:17), and that he “gives us each day our daily bread.”

We also know that our community stands beautifully behind and with us, as we serve.  You drop by six days a week, from early to late, thinking about the people.  As people drive away, we often hear, “I hope someone can use what I brought.”  There is a tenderness in this community which is truly beautiful, and we get to see that heart every day – as you drop by with clothes, food, household items, and/or a check – all to help someone else.

We are truly honored by the opportunity we have been given to serve alongside you.

The Holiday

Taking place each year on the third Monday in January (this year, Monday, January 15th), the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service (MLK Day), is the only federal holiday that is also designated by congress as a National Day of Service.

In 1994, Congress passed a bill to dedicate this national day set aside 1) to honor the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and 2) in light of his legacy, to dedicate this special day as a “National Day of Service.”

Through the years, Mission Arlington^® has been delighted to host volunteers of all ages, and volunteer teams of all sizes who give their time and energy on this day to “make a difference” in the lives of ordinary people in a moment of need. Individuals, families, churches, civic groups, corporate teams have so much fun here every year, as they serve in our community to effect change.  All of us, working together can truly lift the spirits, and support the lives of people going through a momentary speed bump in life.

You Can Help

We will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, January 15th, for volunteers to serve.  You don’t need an appointment, and there isn’t anything for you to fill out in advance. Just show up, and we’ll get you to work.

We look forward to serving with you this coming Monday! It is so much fun to serve together, and to help others at the same time.  This has become one of our favorite days of the year.   Hope to see you then!

Volunteers wrapping gifts in our 2023 free Christmas Store.

Here are the results from our 2023 Christmas Store:

1. People – 30,752 people (7,551 families) received gifts from the 2023 Christmas Store.
2. Bikes – More than 4,000 bikes were donated and delivered.
3. Volunteers – 7,867 volunteers gave their time to help make the Christmas Store work.
4. Spiritual Decisions – 1,032 people made spiritual decisions of some kind.  354 adults accepted Christ. We are so grateful for the faithful support of this community.

Thank you so much for your support.  You made a wonderful difference in the lives of people. We are grateful!

The Christmas Store prior to opening day, 2023.

The free Christmas Store closed Friday, December 22nd, at 6:00 p.m. 30,752 people received gifts, representing 7,551 families.  Over 4,000 bikes were donated and delivered to children. 7,867 volunteers lent their time, giftedness, and energy to run the store, and over one thousand people (1,032) made spiritual decisions – with 354 adults accepting Christ.  The Store was such a blessing to so many, and we are grateful for everyone who helped us over the 13-days that the store was open.

The Mission Arlington^®/ Mission Metroplex^® Christmas Store is for families who reside in Arlington or Grand Prairie in need of help with Christmas gifts for their children.  All gifts are given free of charge. No pre-registration is required.

When is the Christmas Store open?

The Store will be open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Saturday, beginning Saturday, December 9^th through Friday, December 22^nd.   The store is closed on Sundays.

Where is the Christmas Store?

The Mission Arlington^® Christmas Store is located at 400 W. South Street, which is one block west of the main Mission office.  Entrance is on the south side of the building.

How you can help!

1. Provide Christmas Gifts – for children up to age 17.  Please bring unwrapped gifts to Mission Arlington^®.  We receive gifts through Christmas Eve. Wrapping paper & tape helps too. For gift ideas, please, see our lists below:
   1. List of Suggested Toys -This is a list of suggested toys (and other Christmas gifts) provided by Mission Arlington^®
   2. Amazon Wish List – Select from this listing of Christmas toys & gifts, and those gifts will be shipped directly to Mission Arlington^®.
   3. Donate Directly to the Mission – Link HERE.
2. Volunteer in the Christmas Store – Volunteers are needed anytime the store is open to receive & organize Christmas gifts & to stock the store, help parents find gifts in the store that they want for their children, gift-wrappers, and so much more.  Come on down anytime the store is open, and we will get you to work. If you want to bring a group, call ahead at 817-277-6620, and we’ll get your team on the schedule.

For More Information

1. In English – Call 817-277-6620, ext. 3013;
2. En Español – Llame al 817-277-6620, ext. 3113.

Volunteers of all ages helped us to deliver turkeys and boxes of Thanksgiving food to 28,099 people, more than ever before. We are so thankful for you!

Filled with Gratitude

On this Monday after Thanksgiving, the Mission Arlington^® family is truly grateful. We are grateful to God first & foremost, because we know that all good gifts come from Him (James 1:17). We also have a deep sense of gratitude for you, the community that constantly surrounds us.  If you were here during the week, or as some would say, “a fly on the wall,” you would hear “thankfulness” as our constant refrain (Philippians 1:3).

You Provided the Food

Think of this.  You brought enough food to feed 28,099 people – 6,953 families. You drove by with full trunks of food.  Instead of birthday gifts, some children asked for people to bring food for people in need, then they brought it to us. So many teams – civic clubs, schools, businesses, and other organizations, organized food drives. You spent your own money – making flyers, communicating the need in a variety of ways, collecting the food, then bringing it to us.  When we put out the word that we were short of food, you shared our Facebook notice about the need over 48,000 times.  Cars filled with food were lined out to the street as a result.

You Delivered the Meals

Volunteers came as early as 6:45 on Thanksgiving morning to set up for the day – with tables, chairs, rope lines, trash cans, and more.  At 7:30, all of us stopped to pray before the mass of volunteers (4,668 of you) arrived at 8:00 a.m.  At 8:00 we heard a challenge from Mayor Jim Ross, and bowed our heads for prayer, led by former mayor Jeff Williams.  There were “Good mornings!” and “Happy Thanksgiving” offered at every turn, and smiles all around.  The spirit and energy of a community coming together to serve others was such an amazing blessing – to us, but more importantly, to the people who received the food.

What were the Results?

1. Number of Families Served? – 6,953
2. Number of People Served? – 28,099 – more than ever before.
3. Number of Volunteers Helping? – 4,668

Our Heart & Hope

Our hope, and our heart continues to be that when people gather around those family tables, that they will pause to give thanks – not to Mission Arlington^®, or even to this community, but to the Lord. Thank you so much for making this possible.

Thousands of Thanksgiving volunteers from our community sign in to deliver meals to over 6,000 families on Thanksgiving morning. Join us, won’t you?

The Thanksgiving season is upon us, a wonderful time of year.  Families anticipate gathering around the table to enjoy family, to eat a wonderful meal, and to count their blessings. We truly have so much to be thankful for.  The Thanksgiving season at Mission Arlington^® is such a special time of the year too.

Instead of a traditional soup line, where people come to us, we actually deliver the food to the people.  In this way, families can gather around their own kitchen table, with their own family to enjoy this special meal.

On Thanksgiving Day, starting at 8:00 a.m., our community delivers meals to families who otherwise would not have the traditional food of the season.  It is truly a day to give thanks.

Young students sort food prior to Thanksgiving Day.

Prior to Thanksgiving Day

1. You Can Volunteer – Prior to Thanksgiving Day, we are receiving food from the community, organizing the food, and then packing it into boxes.  We are receiving, storing, and ultimately thawing more than 6,000 turkeys. November is such a fun month to volunteer on your own, with your family, or with your team. Our volunteer hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday.  If you aren’t available to serve on Thanksgiving morning, come help us get ready for the big day.  We would love to serve with you.  Coming on your own, or with a friend, just come on down. Appointments aren’t necessary.  If you are coming with a group, call us at 817-277-6620 to get on our schedule.
2. You Can Bring Food – We need Turkeys & Thanksgiving Food – hams, stuffing mix, canned fruit, canned sweet potatoes, canned pie filling, cranberry sauce, box/mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, beans/rice, tuna, peanut butter, rolls, pie crust – or anything else that goes with a Thanksgiving turkey. You can link HERE to learn more.

A young man serves to help others on Thanksgiving Day. Children make a difference.

On Thanksgiving Day, 8:00 a.m.

Last year, we served nearly 6,300 families, representing a little more than 26 thousand people.  It takes thousands of volunteers to help that happen, and your support has been so appreciated.

If you would like to volunteer on Thanksgiving Day, please join us at Mission Arlington^®, starting at 8:00 a.m.  No pre-appointment or signup required. Children and families are more than welcome.  Don’t worry if you see a big line when you arrive. It will move quickly.

We will give you the name and contact information of a family or two.  You will pick up your food, and then you will make the delivery.  Families and children are more than welcome.

Thank you!

Every Thanksgiving, we give thanks for you.  We are a simple expression of a beautiful, loving & generous community.  You provide the food, and you take it to people’s homes.  We love the privilege we have every day of serving alongside you.  If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at 817-277-6620.

The hayride is always a fun part of the Fall Festival

Update

On a rain-filled day, 1,155 children, with their families, attended our Fall Festival in 2023.  It was a sweet time to celebrate with family and friends. Thank you so much for your support.

Our annual Fall Festival happens again on Saturday, October 28th, from noon to 4:00 p.m.  This family-fun, outdoor event is open to the public, and it is a great way to spend a Fall afternoon with the family.  The Fall Festival happens in Central Arlington, just behind the Grace Street Fellowship campus, located at 1516 W. Pioneer Pkwy., Arlington, TX 76013.

Fall Costumes

The colorful costumes are a big part of the fun at our Fall Festival.  Children, youth, and even a few parents dress the part – in creative garb appropriate to a family-friendly environment.  The costumes are just so much fun, especially when you see the biggest smiles coming from the children.

Family Time Together Outdoors

One of the best parts of this annual event is that it is outdoors.  You will get to spend time with your children, grandchildren, nieces & nephews away from the technology-drive world we all live in and love.  Put away the office, and the day-to-day noise of life to enjoy walking around in the festive atmosphere of this Festival – with your family.

Food and all kinds of Fun at the Festival

A team of volunteers arrive early on that Saturday morning to prepare the food for the day. Hotdogs, chips, drinks, and more, are available free of charge for everyone who attends. A big row of “Bouncy Houses” line the fields of the festival and children have so much fun bouncing energetically and enthusiastically throughout the day. Carnival Games, with prizes are also a big part of the fun.  Finally, a huge tractor-driven hayride is also much loved by the children and their families.

Please join us on Saturday, October 28th, behind Grace Street Fellowship, between 12:00 and 4:00 p.m., won’t you?  This is going to be such a great day!

Transparency & Accountability

The Mission Arlington^® family has had a long commitment to transparency and accountability. Here are some important facts which may be helpful:

1. Consistent Leadership – Tillie Burgin, our Executive Director, has been in leadership here since we began, now more than 37-years ago.
2. Transparency – We publish a report of our annual results each year.
3. Accountability – We operate under the prayerful leadership and guidance of a well-respected, local board of directors.
4. Independent Evaluation: We also work in partnership with multiple charity watchdogs who evaluate and report on our work.  We are in good standing with all.

Who is Charity Navigator?

Charity Navigator is North America’s “largest and most utilized charity evaluator,” in operation since 2001, and providing accountability to non-profits and transparency to more than 11 million donors annually.  For more than a decade, Mission Arlington^® has ranked in the top 2% of all charities evaluated by Charity Navigator.

Mission Arlington Earns 4-STARS

This week, Charity Navigator announced that Mission Arlington^® had once again (multiple years in a row) earned Charity Navigator’s highest honor, 4-stars. This rating designates Mission Arlington^® as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating that our organization is using its donations effectively based on Charity Navigator’s extensive criteria.  According to Michael Thatcher, the President and CEO of Charity Navigator, the charity watchdog is delighted “to provide Mission Arlington^® with “third-party accreditation that validates Mission Arlington^® ‘s operational excellence.”

We are grateful

We are grateful to God for all He has done in this place.  We are grateful for the priceless privilege we have of walking this journey alongside such a beautifully generous community.  Our hearts are full as look to the tasks that are ahead.  We are truly grateful for you!