Closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday
Every year I celebrate Thanksgiving with a two-hour gratitude meditation. I’m starting early this year because I have so much for which I am grateful.
The LCM will be closed beginning November 25th and we will reopen on December 1st. I am writing this after service hours. We fed 75 households today. We delivered over 50,000 pounds of food this month. I am grateful I am privileged to have such rewarding work.
Dan is out this week visiting family in California for the holidays. I was deeply touched that all of the regular volunteers showed up today to do the final Thanksgiving service. I work with an army of the best people I have ever met. It meant a lot that they came to help fill in for Dan (who works hard enough to need an army of volunteers to cover for him). I am grateful for my volunteers and for Dan.
Everyone is leaving to have their holidays. It has been an exhausting month. They need a break. I need a break. With Dan out, I’ll be working through the holiday – but only partial days. I am looking forward to my half days and spending some time with my daughter. Maybe catching up on my sleep. I am grateful for whatever down time I have. I am grateful for every nap. And I am grateful to have a daughter who is also my best friend.
We have had an amazing amount of food donations from our community. Wow. Just wow. I have food stuffed in every available corner of this building. When I go into 2026, I will have more money for financial assistance because I will spend less money for food. I am so grateful for such a generous community.
Nathan will be working with me tomorrow on repairs to the building. Then we are off to buy bicycles for the Santa Room. I am grateful for Nathan and how skilled he is with fixing things. I am grateful he is willing to do this for the LCM. I am grateful for the donor who is buying the bicycles.
I’m grateful for Morgan and Cheryl and Luis and Patella and Charles. I have an incredible staff. I am grateful for Gregory, a former driver who has returned to help us through the holidays.
I started at 6 a.m. this morning unloading trucks. I am grateful at my age I can still do that.
I’m grateful for the members of my Executive Board who showed up to support me and stayed all day long.
I’m tired, hungry and ready to head home. I am grateful that I have a home, a bed and as much food as I want to eat. God has been very good to me.
I hope you find many reasons to be thankful this year. I hope you spend your holiday surrounded by the people you love the most. I hope both your heart and your stomachs are full.
I am so grateful for a community who takes care of others first before they celebrate their blessings.
Jackie
