Today I am writing to express gratitude. Yesterday brought news of a very generous donation to Thrive from someone who already gives of his time, energy, ideas and money to support the work that we do. Along with his donation, he included a note, “This is in appreciation for the dedication and hard work put in by everyone involved..” As one of the “involved”, with this donation he ensures that roughly 50 more weekend backpacks get sent home.

Yesterday also brought an opportunity for me to prepare a meal to share with another family. As two busy working moms of daughters who love one another, we support each other in countless ways. We share our hopes and fears, for ourselves and our families; we share our challenges and successes; we share our daughters and the joy they bring to our lives. We often share all of these things over a meal. And today I am reminded of how grateful I am to be able to do this.

Food nourishes more than just our bodies. Sharing food nourishes our connectedness and our sense of community.