What is the GCC?

"Providing Help, Hope, and Healing for Our Neighbors in Need in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers"

The Grace Community Center (GCC) opened in late 2008 to address the needs of the poor and marginalized in the Southwest Florida area. It provides a path for its neighbors to live lives of freedom with dignity through an abundance of compassion ministries. The GCC and its ministries impact the community through teams that work every day to feed the hungry, clothe the needy, educate the less skilled and provide hope for the hopeless. The GCC was awarded 2010 "Ministry of The Year" by the Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and in April 2011 the GCC was recognized by the Lee County Board of Commissioners for "outstanding and unselfish service to our community."

The Third Saturday monthly outreach provides the local community with numerous services such as groceries, haircuts, health screenings, pet food, and State Aid Rep's, to name a few. The GCC's management team has partnered with Children's Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida to provide parenting classes, Dr. Piper Center for Social Services for the Foster Grandparent Project, the Florida Department of Health for the Quit Smoking Now Program, and Delta Family Counseling for the at-risk youth after-school program, Junction 4151, which is sponsored by Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott.

A powerful program with an effective outreach, Celebrate Recovery transforms the lives of people impacted by drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual addictions or abuse, violence and other hurts, habits, or hang-ups keeping them from leading productive fulfilling lives.

The GED program volunteers provide free assistance to those who wish to further their education.

The Wheel-Men Bike Ministry provided more than 100 free bicycles to those without transportation and the Car Care Service Ministry provided oil changes and basic car care for single moms and widows in need. 

The GCC is a shining light in the local community, providing hope and assistance to thousands of its neighbors every month. In 2011, the GCC gave away 238,086 pounds of food (an increase of 46.4% over 2010) to more than 26,048 of our neighbors in need. It provided more than 31,622 pounds of pet food to pet owners in need. To those who could not afford them, 748 haircuts were given away. Teams through the GCC have helped more than 393 guests apply for food stamps and Medicaid, or a free cell phone from various agencies. The GED classes served 585 students with free tutoring. Junction 4151, our at-risk high school program, hosted more than 2,500 students. The medical team served as many as 1,508 guests in a single month with free blood pressure and blood sugar checks, breast cancer evaluations, free flu shots, even confidential HIV testing. This is just a snap shot of the amazing things happening through the numerous community outreach programs housed in the GCC.

Volunteer Opportunities

For a complete list of ministries at the Grace Community Center, please see our Ministry Guide located in the top-left corner of every page.