A Thanksgiving Message from Our Executive Director November 2023
At Toco Hills Community Alliance, it is impossible to shut thanksgiving up in a single day because every day here, there is always, always, always something – and usually many, many things – to be thankful for. Even when the days are long, even when we are stretched, even in the midst of crisis and challenge, even in the midst of growing need that led to a record of serving over 600 families last week, we have much to be grateful for.
We have enough food. We have enough space to store the food. We are able to share good, healthy food.
We have dedicated, committed volunteers, staff, and Board.
We have wonderful community partnerships with schools, businesses, and faith communities.
We have you, our wonderful supporters, who have been faithful in giving thoughts, and time, and supplies, and funds.
Because of all of these, because of you, we have been able to live more fully into being Neighbors Helping Neighbors, filling in the gaps for the growing number of our neighbors in need.
Most of these neighbors have jobs or they have a pension or other income, but they just cannot make it stretch.
- Like the disabled veteran and his wife with diabetes who come every week to ensure they have healthy food.
Many of our neighbors are among the over 100,000 person backlog our state has for certifying SNAP benefits; this backlog, in fact, seems to be the major reason for our steep increase.
- Like the single mom trying to make a better life for her family by going back to school, and despite getting all information in on time, is still waiting on needed benefits.
Many of our neighbors have experienced great trauma and loss, refugees from war-torn countries, domestic violence, and the victims of the apartment fire just down Lavista Road.
- Like the international student who lost everything she owned in that fire – even her identification.
The need is growing. We are setting records almost daily for how many people we are serving with healthy groceries and for how many unhoused friends we are sharing hot meals with. That means we have but a few, brief moments of interaction.
Our challenge every day is not only about ensuring everyone receives good, healthy food, it is also to ensure that the brief moments we have with them are the best moments of their day.
Only with your support we can continue to do so.
Every time
*the couple with diabetes shares their great blood sugar levels or
*the single mom student shares her good grades or
*the victim can breathe a little because one need is covered…
It is your generous support that makes it possible.
As we wrap up this Annual Campaign, please give what you can – even a small amount goes a long way here. And, please, consider being a recurring donor – knowing what resources we have helps us with planning as meet the growing need.
For 25 years, Toco Hills Community Alliance has been a place where thanksgiving is never shut up in one day, but flows freely. With your help, it will be such a place for at least 25 more.
Giving thanks upon thanks for you,
Rev. Dr. Lisa Heilig, Executive Director
Thanksgiving 2023
