Freedom From Want

Freedom From Want – Norman Rockwell

Life can be very trying. When your child is hungry, your body wracked with pain, or you have no idea where you and your family will find a place to sleep, it’s hard to find something for which you can be thankful. So, for just a few minutes on Thanksgiving Day, step outside your situation and just “be”. Find something, no matter how small, to be thankful for because in giving thanks, you will be lightening your load, even if for only a moment.

These boxes don’t look like much but they are part of Good Cheer’s Holiday Fixings. Food Bank coordinator Damien Cortez and a crew of volunteers have stocked our walk-in freezers with 850 frozen turkeys!

The grocery racks at Good Cheer are full of supplies for our clients to cook a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

ZERO POINTS!

This food is in addition to a household’s food points and includes a frozen turkey (or a ham), 1 can of canned yams, stuffing mix, celery, canned pumpkin, cranberry sauce, a bag of rolls, and (thanks to Ula Lewis, our coupon Lady) a tub of Cool Whip.

This holiday basket is in addition to a household’s normal points, and is available again in December.

There is another group on Whidbey Island that brings happiness on Thanksgiving Day. The Mobile Turkey Unit is a community service organization that has been with us since 1999. It was founded by Tom Arhontas, who had a special place in his heart for people in need.

The goal of the Mobile Turkey Unit is to provide a free, home-delivered Thanksgiving meal for people who would otherwise not have one. This includes the elderly, shut-ins, low-income and unemployed people, plus employees working on Thanksgiving day on South and Central Whidbey.

This year they expect to provide Thanksgiving meals to at least 200 families on South and Central Whidbey Island. There are more than 150 volunteers in the program, a lot of people sharing from their hearts.

“Everybody wants to deliver,”  Joan Smith the organizer for the group says, explaining that it brings great gratification to the drivers.

Smith recalled the story of a young girl who saw a Mobile Turkey Unit driver pull into her family’s driveway. She ran out into the driveway shouting, “Mommy, mommy! The turkey is here! Thanksgiving is here!”

You can volunteer or donate to the Mobile Turkey Unit at their website.

Happy Thanksgivings Day!

Love, Peace and Happiness to All!