MGF Office Update


Take a look at the great pictures and video from our July 31st, 2010 painting and work day at the MGF office! 35 volunteers came from our church (Plymouth Covenant) and did such a super job! It was a great encouragement and a lot got accomplished. A huge thank you for proving their time, expertise and enthusiasm!

Click on the these two links to see some of our progress and the fun we had.
Link 1
Link 2

There is still much yet to do and so we appreciate your continued prayers and support. We need many skilled laborers (HVAC, Electricians, people to lay carpet and tile, millwork, finish carpentry, landscape, etc.) to complete our work as well as folks with helpful hands who can paint, sand and clean up the mess!

As we continue to prepare our new National Headquarters, a 6000sft building located in Elk River. We need the help of our community and local businesses to provide the needed materials, funds and labor specialties to remodel and furnish our new offices and community room as well as the community center, counseling office, library, kids play area, lounge, and gift shop (to open to the public by year end). Plans are also underway to open a pregnancy clinic (phase 3 of our remodel) for mothers who have a history of stillbirth and are high risk in their pregnancies. The clinic will provide the necessary additional monitoring, support and care needed to help give a positive outcome in subsequent pregnancies. Please contact us by phone 763-497-0709 or by email if you are able to provide goods, services or funds.

With great anticipation and appreciation,

Candy and Steve McVicar


"Grace Connection" Helps Missing GRACE Find its New Headquarters


Missing GRACE was founded in 2002, as a way to honor and remember Grace McVicar who was stillborn on December 20, 2001. Since its inception, the organization's offices have been located at the founders' home, with its regular weekly support group and volunteer meetings held at churches and community centers. It has been a huge cost savings for the foundation to be free of the expense of a building/ lease. However, by not having "everything under one roof" it has become more and more challenging over time. The foundation uses three large storage units to warehouse supplies and back stock as the office had been maxed out on space. By making these sacrifices the Missing GRACE Foundation has been able to direct more funds into providing free services and support to families over the past eight years, fulfilling our mission.

Missing GRACE Foundation (MGF) has shared with donors and members the hope to have a "brick and mortar national headquarters office." We knew at the right time there would come a situation that would work well for office space and have been patiently waiting. It seems that over the years, Grace, the baby whom the foundation was created in honor of, has helped make amazing "Grace Connections" for the foundation. There have been so many circumstances that cannot be explained otherwise that have unfolded before our eyes and allowed MGF to help save more lives and come alongside more families in need. As we enter this season of spring and time of 'new birth' and 'fresh beginnings' it seems all the more fitting to share this good news of how yet once again, there is a "Grace Connection" which is now creating a way for MGF to have a "new home."

On June 16th, 2009 a precious little baby named Grace was born silently. She died of a triple nuchal cord. Her mother, April Westgaard, found MGF online and felt a kindred-heart-connection by the name. She started attending a GRACE Support Group and found healing and comfort from others who "get it" and could journey with her. April and Paul Heinen, owners of Heinen Motorsports, learned of MGF's office needs and were in a position to help. They felt it was a way to tangibly honor their daughter Grace and have graciously donated the needed office space to MGF. Missing GRACE will move into its national headquarters office in September, 2010! The office will be located in Elk River, Minnesota just off Highway 169.

At this time, the space will house the MGF offices, GRACE Care Basket/ Tote distribution and classroom/ meeting space for community classes and support forums for bereaved, infertile and adoptive families. In the future, this building has the space to grow and add additional services and support programs, including a community center and library for families that have experienced pregnancy/ infant loss, infertility or adoption challenges and a pregnancy care clinic for stillbirth moms. However, this will not be possible without securing the funding needed to make that transition, build-out the center, purchase equipment and hire the staff to run the center. Please consider making a one-time or monthly taxdeductible donation to help make this possible!!! Donations can be made online with a credit card here or mailed to: Missing GRACE Foundation, P.O. Box 1625 Maple Grove, MN 55311.

If you would like to become involved and help with getting the new offices ready by June, or with help in offering professional services once the office is open please fill out the Volunteer Form. If you have any questions, please email us or call 763-497-0709. As we prepare to move into the office, help is needed with the following donations, services and labor specialties: signs/signage, movers/truck, paint/painters, carpet/carpet installers, lumber/carpenters, lighting/electricians, public relations, graphic design, printing, and various office equipment/supplies.

There are important volunteer work dates coming up to help paint, carpet, tile, tear down walls and demolition areas of the New Office to prep for new configurations of the space/ layout. Email us if you are interested in being involved in this.

If you or someone you know owns or manages a business/corporation and would possibly be interested to donate to and support this important project, please print out this letter to give to them. Help us spread the word!

If you would like to donate a specific item from our "Needs List" or provide the funds to help us purchase needed items, please view/print this document and click here to donate online.

Thank you for your support!