With Our Gratitude

This past week and this upcoming weekend, we have been hosting extra events as our local part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.  We have called our local campaign #END, looking to END hunger and Homelessness in our neighborhoods and cities.  The Macon County Continuum of Care, Advisory Committee spearheaded the planning of this year's events.

November 14 was Box City on the Campus of Millikin University.  Millkin Students and members of area congregation's youth groups joined together to learn and in a small way, experience a night of homelessness.

November 19, individuals were taken on a different type of trolley tour of the city, heading past many of the agencies which work with hunger and homelessness issues on a daily basis.  Members of our community who had been homeless and now are successfully on the other side shared their stories.

This weekend, a young man as put together a food drive on the west side of town to serve as his Eagle Scout project.  Kudos to Ben Young and his family and friends for taking that service project on.  And on Sunday, First Baptist Church is hosting a concert featuring "Dual Piano" to bring awareness to the issue and to collect warm items.

Thanks to our local media that has shared time to bring some awareness of these issue to their viewers and listeners and readers.

NHHAW is schedule each year the week before Thanksgiving with the thought as before we gather with our friends and families, we take a moment to reflect and do something to help those who find themselves in need.  The week is almost over, but you can check Dove's website to continue to keep informed and to see what events are coming in the months to come.

Thanks to all who made the plans, to all who participated in the events and to the many, many who donated time, talents, funding and items this week.  We are grateful for it all.  And please let us be among the many to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.