Dear Friend,
In 1863, during the depth of the Civil War, President Lincoln declared a national day of Thanksgiving to “heal the wounds of a nation” and “to restore it…to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.” Since then, we have taken Thanksgiving as an opportunity to come together and give thanks for all we have and give back to those in need. This year Melanie and I are particularly thankful for our many blessings, including our two sons.
Thanksgiving is about showing gratitude for all of the wonderful things we get to enjoy in our lives, from family and friends to a bountiful table, but it’s also about expressing that gratitude by giving back. Despite the richness of our lives, we know that there are still many in great need: working families feeling the pinch of tough economic times; thousands of unhoused children living in shelters across our city; veterans sleeping on street corners; and asylum-seekers arriving here with nothing but the shirts on their backs and a desperate plea for a chance at the American Dream.