“Thank you” drops from our mouths like leaves from trees during Thanksgiving, and this nation’s day of thanks has morphed into a commercialized beast with all the trimmings.
We spend our “thankful” days off with a stomach full of turkey and sleeping or catching up on homework, while the forgotten and homeless go hungry on the streets of our blessed nation.
ACU students should do more than simply say “thank you” this Thanksgiving holiday. Instead, show your thanks through service.
In Abilene one way students can give back before heading home for the break is Mission Thanksgiving.
For nine years, Love and Care Ministries has organized the altruistic event, and all sections of the Abilene community – local businesses, media, churches and residents – unite to gather food, clothes and money for the homeless and poor of Abilene.
“We’re incredibly blessed, and we need to understand there are people all around the world that are not as blessed,” said Terry Davis, administrator for Love and Care Ministries. “And as much as we need to be thankful for the things that we have, we also need to be open-handed with what we have.”
Love and Care accepts donations of clothes, food and money at Arrow Ford car lot at 4001 South 1st St. until 7 p.m. Friday, but ACU students can help most effectively after the donations stop coming.
Davis said Love and Care needs volunteers to help unload the trailers full of generously donated items at a warehouse on 4126 N. 1st St. The unloading begins at 9 a.m. and the more volunteers, the faster the trailers unload and the faster the donations go out to help Abilene’s impoverished.
Mission Thanksgiving offers just one of many ways the ACU community can show its thanks for blessings through action.
Find the Abilene Thanksgiving project you want to help and make a difference by helping the less fortunate during the holiday season.
Instead of lapping up plates full of shopping, parades, pie and football during Thanksgiving, enjoy a side of service.
It may help digest that turkey dinner a little more easily.
