There's something about this time of year.
The mornings get colder.
The smell of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie starts creeping into our thoughts.
Christmas lights begin popping up around town.
And somewhere, somebody is already arguing about whether the dressing should be cooked inside the turkey or in a separate pan.
(For the record, I'm not getting in the middle of that fight.)
But there's something else happening this time of year.
Something a whole lot more important than turkey, tinsel, or who's bringing the mashed potatoes.
People are getting ready to take care of one another.
And here at the Silver City Gospel Mission, that's one holiday tradition we have no intention of giving up.
Two holidays. Two big dinners. A whole lot of love.
Every Thanksgiving and every Christmas, our Mission prepares and serves holiday meals.
Not because it's fancy.
Not because somebody told us we had to.
But because we believe nobody should have to feel forgotten during the holidays.
A hot meal.
A friendly face.
A place where somebody looks you in the eye, smiles, and says, "We're glad you're here."
Sometimes those simple things mean more than we realize.
And here's the beautiful part...
You can be part of making it happen.
The Thanksgiving boxes that mean so much
We also have another tradition.
Every Thanksgiving, we put together food boxes for large families who could use a little extra help preparing their holiday dinner.
Now, imagine a mother or father wondering how they're going to put a Thanksgiving meal on the table for all those hungry mouths.
Then imagine the relief when someone shows up with a box of food.
The potatoes.
The stuffing.
The vegetables.
The makings of a real Thanksgiving dinner.
And, perhaps most important of all...
The knowledge that somebody in their community cares.
That's what these boxes are really about.
Not just groceries.
Hope, wrapped up in a cardboard box.
Here's where you come in
We're inviting our Grant County neighbors to help make this holiday season something special.
There are several ways to pitch in:
Volunteer for Thanksgiving dinner. Help prepare, serve, or clean up after the meal.
Volunteer for Christmas dinner. Share a little of your Christmas Day with neighbors who could use some kindness.
Donate food for our holiday dinners. Help us put hearty, delicious meals on the tables.
Contribute to Thanksgiving family boxes. Food donations help us provide holiday groceries to larger families.
Make a financial gift. We'll put it toward helping feed and care for our neighbors this holiday season.
You don't have to do everything.
You don't have to be rich.
You don't have to be a world-class cook.
Heck, if you can peel a potato, carry a box, or share a smile, you've already got something valuable to offer.
The best Christmas presents don't always come wrapped
Here's something I've learned after years around the Mission.
A person can forget what was on the menu.
They can forget the decorations.
They might even forget your name.
But it's awfully hard to forget how somebody made you feel when you needed a little kindness.
And that's the kind of Christmas spirit worth spreading.
The kind that doesn't come from a store.
The kind you can't stuff into a stocking.
The kind that starts when ordinary people decide to do something extraordinary for somebody else.
So this year, as the holidays roll around, I hope you'll consider joining us.
Bring a friend.
Bring your church group.
Bring your family.
Or just bring yourself.
There's room for plenty of helping hands.
Want to volunteer or contribute?
Visit our community help website to get involved:
https://help.silvercitygospelmission.org/HelpWorkWithUs?type=meal
Or support our efforts with a donation:
https://help.silvercitygospelmission.org/HelpWorkWithUs?type=give
And please share this message with anyone who might want to help.
Because the more neighbors who pitch in, the more holiday warmth we can share.
From all of us at the Silver City Gospel Mission...
May your Thanksgiving be full of gratitude, your Christmas be full of joy, and your heart be full of the blessings that come from helping others.
-Randy Salars
P.S. You know what's better than sitting around a Thanksgiving table with people you love? Helping make sure another family gets to do the same. If you can donate food, volunteer, or make a gift, we'd love to hear from you.