This week’s paper covers two major events, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week and Thanksgiving.
In my mind, they are very much related.
Thanksgiving became a national holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise.” He went on to say that we should be grateful for our food and health.
I remember one Thanksgiving dinner I was invited to after eating a large meal the younger brother was looking at a third piece of pie, his older brother handed him a fork and said “go down like a man.”
The conversation continued and soon we heard moaning on the floor from the young boy who “went down like a man” eating too much pie.
While this is a fun memory, is gluttony really the best way to show our thanks?
Now, I have nothing against Thanksgiving, it happens to be one of my favorite holidays. It is just sad to me that so much of the meaning has left the holiday. It is a time to remember what we are grateful for, such as family and friends.
Lincoln recommended that we heal the wounds of the nation, the wounds being the Civil War, by offering up acknowledgments for blessings, and taking care of “those who became widow, orphans, mourners or suffers in the lamentable civil strife.”
In keeping with Lincoln’s message of taking care of those who suffer, SLCC is taking part in the National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
It is hoped that this event will bring greater awareness to the community, help end hunger, homelessness and poverty, and inspire people to get up and do something about it.
One thing that I have learned is that sometimes when we don’t feel grateful, that is the time that we most need to act with grace.
There are several food drives going on around different campuses. All day Thursday, November 20 students can bring canned food with them to Jordan, South City and Taylorsville-Redwood Campuses.
You can even donate food right in the newsroom all week long.
There are also some service opportunities, including sorting food at the Utah Food Bank on November 21, or serving breakfast to the homeless at St. Vincent De Paul Soup Kitchen on Saturday, November 22.
To sign up for either of these, you can go to www.slcc.edu/sll.
My challenge to you is that you take one thing off of your Thanksgiving table this year and share it with one who is lacking.
Thank you, and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
