This has been one of those weeks that fills me with gratitude for our community. I wish that I could share stories about every singe person or organization that supports Reston Interfaith, but I would like to highlight just a few Thanksgiving gifts that we received this past week. On Monday and Tuesday, we received colorful boxes of Thanksgiving food from students at Sunrise Valley Elementary School. On Wednesday, the UPS Store at South Lakes and the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, through their Literacy Program, gave thousands of brand-new children's books to RI and Fairfax County Public Schools, which we will distribute to area kids in need. On Thursday, we kicked off our annual Thanksgiving Holiday Food Drive, and began collecting boxes of holiday food that will be shared with over 800 families struggling to make ends meet. Today, we were given a semi-truck loaded with food and personal care items by an anonymous donor through Feed the Children, a national nonprofit organization that delivers food and other necessities to those who lack essentials due to poverty and other causes.
 
Every day of this week I was overwhelmed with thankfulness for each of these precious acts. Children, adults, students, employees, Girl and Boy Scouts, volunteers, and teachers - both through large and small gifts - demonstrated their willingness to lend a helping hand in order to make the holidays a joyful time for all of our neighbors. Tomorrow, I am excited to finish this amazing week by walking with my colleagues and friends at Fannie Mae's Help the Homeless Walkathon on the National Mall. I hope that you will join me in taking steps to ensure that nobody in our community is without a place to call home.

 

As we celebrate Thanksgiving with our loved ones next week, please know how thankful Reston Interfaith is to you, every day of every year, as you generously share your time and resources with the people that we serve. We would like to wish each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.