John, to me, Thanksgiving isn’t just about giving thanks for all we’re grateful for — though that’s an important part of it. It’s also about giving back to our communities.

When I think of giving back, I think of MANNA, an organization in Philadelphia that provides healthy meals and nutrition counseling to people with serious illnesses. I got to see their generosity and compassion firsthand when I toured their facility last summer and got a chance to visit them again earlier this week to help deliver meals to folks ahead of Thanksgiving:

As a physician, I can tell you access to fresh, healthy food is key to overall health. That’s why it’s so important to support organizations like MANNA that provide these services to communities in need — including on Thanksgiving.

John, I hope you’ll turn Thanksgiving into an opportunity to get involved with a similar organization in your community. Check out this link to find out ways to volunteer and donate, or look for opportunities listed in your local newspaper.

Thank you, and happy Thanksgiving.

Val