Gathering with family and being thankful for the things you have is what Thanksgiving means to sophomore Jacey Simmons. Unfortunately, not everyone has that luxury, and in turn, many people spend Thanksgiving hungry. As of this June, 32,589 people are homeless in the state of Michigan, according to the Forgotten Harvest website. In the spirit of giving, local places like Forgotten Harvest in Oak Park are working hard to feed as many people as possible.
Forgotten Harvest is a non-profit organization with multiple locations all around metro Detroit that donates 144,000 pounds of food to local charities every week. Forgotten Harvest has already distributed 42,114,494 pounds of food this year! For 33 years, all over metro Detroit, people have worked hard to feed millions, providing fresh foods free of charge. Forgotten Harvest also opens up many volunteer opportunities for everyone. Kelly McEvoy is the Director of Food Programs at Forgotten Harvest. She states that during distributions, “we partner with many different organizations who help hand out the food 100% free of charge to the clients – like shelters, soup kitchens, schools, community centers, churches, senior centers, etc.” She shares that during the holidays, Forgotten Harvest has a program called “Hope for the Holidays.” McEvoy comments “During the holidays, more clients ask us to help support them as they are trying to provide for the families in other ways, whether through gifts or paying the heating bill. Our food donations increased drastically after the holidays when the stores did not sell through all their inventory.
On the flip side, this is our most plentiful time of year for financial giving and volunteer support.” Though food is the main priority given to people, McEvoy adds that things like bikes and bedding are also given depending on the fit needs of the people they are helping. McEvoy explains that giving to others helped her gain not only perspective but also saw herself grow with it as well. “What resonates with me most is feeding children. What I have been taught is that anyone; your neighbor, friend, relative, or coworker could at any time be faced with making a hard decision of keeping the heat on, putting gas in their vehicle, or putting food on the table.” She says that gaining this perspective had her develop a non-judgmental view, “because you just never know what someone is going through.”
So, when thinking about Thanksgiving, remember how important giving is. Millions of people across the country struggle with a lack of food, and we can lessen that. Acknowledge the importance of service to people in need and act on it. As we continue to give, we can see a positive effect as a student body. When asked the question, “What comes to mind when you hear the word Thanksgiving,” remember to always give. Students can sign up by volunteering or donating, use the QR code for further information.
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