L to R: Rotarian Leslie Thompson, Allison Quisenberry, Director of Development for Serve Denton, Kristen Gramling, Director of Operations for Serve Denton, and LNR club president Dennis Song. Click image above to open full-size photo.
In 1976, Denton mayor Elinor Hughes proposed the idea of a one-stop human services center to help local residents in need. Although well received, the city lacked funding to bring the idea to fruition, and it was all but forgotten until 2011. At that time, Denton Bible Church explored the idea of turning excess property owned by the church into a nonprofit office complex. By 2012, the vision finally took shape with the launch of Serve Denton, a 501(c)(3) charity that exists to help other nonprofits grow capacity and make their services more accessible to those needing assistance.
Over the past decade, Serve Denton has continued to expand its reach, and the organization will be opening a new campus in Lewisville this summer. Last week's guest presenter, Kristen Gramling, Director of Operations for Serve Denton, shared how the project has taken shape, and what local residents can expect from the new facility.
After two years of feasibility studies and planning, Serve Denton identified the former DATCU building on Edmonds at Fox in Lewisville as the prime location for the new hub, which will be called Serve Lewisville. The city provided funding for the organization to acquire the building through a public private partnership, and the new facility will provide affordable office space and shared resources to several local nonprofits, so they can maximize their impact in the community. Serve Lewisville also will provide a bilingual client greeter, a shared printer/ copier, tours, professional development programs, support from Serve Denton staff, and fun events to help the nonprofits at the Lewisville hub.
The renovated facility will have its official Phase 1 Ribbon Cutting event on July 20th at 9 a.m. Partner organizations that will be moved in by the ribbon cutting include the City of Lewisville Co-care Team, Denton County MHMR, Boys & Girls Club of Tarrant County, MHMR of Tarrant County Early Childhood Intervention, and Mission Market Pantry, supported by the Tarrant Area Food Bank. In addition to partners who will have shared office space on site, Serve Lewisville also offers support services to off-site members.
In preparation for the grand opening, Serve Lewisville is hosting a volunteer work day on June 24th from 8am - noon. The charity also is hosting a large fundraising event at Sneaky Pete's on Lake Lewisville on Thursday, August 24th, starting at 5pm. For details on how to get involved and support the work of Serve Denton / Serve Lewisville as an individual or a business, visit www.servelewisville.org.