I would like to wish my readers a very happy Thanksgiving holiday! It is my hope that your holiday is filled with joy, laughter, and family togetherness. Thanksgiving is a time when families are reunited and the focus of the holiday is on being thankful for the blessings in life. It is also a time when families are thankful for each other. Huge meals are prepared and the families sit together and enjoy their holiday meal.

While I know that there will be many that spend this time together with family and friends, there will also be those that will not experience the same. Instead, they will endure yet another day of abuse. They will not know what it is to laugh during this holiday. They will not share in the family togetherness. It is difficult for those being abused to pinpoint something to be thankful for, since all they know is pain and suffering. It is tragic that their day could bring further trauma and pain. It is possible that they live their lives, on this holiday, in the same manner in which they have lived every day. Abuse doesn’t stop simply because it’s a holiday; however, there is something that some of us can do to help the children involved.

There is a program available in our communities. There are several grocery stores that have a program set up in which a person can purchase a holiday meal for a family in need. These meals are made to feed an entire family and the prices are rather inexpensive. Please consider purchasing a meal for a needy family. The meal comes with a turkey and all the fixings. As I said in an earlier article, if we are able to purchase a meal for those in need, we help to diminish the level of stress on Thanksgiving; thus, hopefully helping the children.

During the next few days, please consider providing a meal for a family. The supermarkets that participate in this program usually have the coupons available at the check-out register. All you would have to do is purchase a coupon for a family and the supermarket takes care of the rest. Imagine the joy on a child’s face when they see that they have a special holiday meal just for them. What a thrill it will be for them.

Again, I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving day. I hope that it is filled with time spent with your family and friends and that you experience the joy of laughter and thankfulness.