No matter where each of us finds ourselves on Thanksgiving Day, we all no doubt have reasons to be thankful. I am thankful for family and friends; for my sweet dog, who found me in March; for the opportunity to work hard to bring about something that hasn't happened in my lifetime--a Democrat winning my state's electoral college votes. I am thankful for summer, for music, for the fact that Chicago is only a couple hours away. I'm thankful for the people in my life that challenge me to be better.

Most of all, I am and will be forever thankful that for the first 25 years of my life, I had an amazing mom to shape, guide, and love me, and to teach me the most important lessons of life. And even though the mother I knew has been gone for a while, I am thankful that I can still hold her hand and give her a hug. I am thankful that sometimes she recognizes me and I can occasionally still make her laugh.

I'm going to spend the next four days with the people that I love best in this world. I'm sure we'll talk about our loved ones who are spending the holiday elsewhere this year. We'll repeat all of our old family stories and jokes, so the new generation can learn them. We'll laugh at the babies and the toddlers, as we hug them close and tickle under their chins. We'll play cards. We'll watch football. We will carefully avoid politics, as we always do. Usually, it's because we can't start a discussion that doesn't end with hollering and hurt feelings. This year it will be because there are some of us in my family who are disappointed at the outcome of the election and uncertain about what life will be like after January 20th. The rest of us are thrilled beyond belief, but we won't want to rub it in.

We will also eat our fill of the foods that have appeared on our table every November since I can remember, and most likely long before then. 

There are many people who are not as lucky as we are. This year, even more than usual. More people are on food stamps and more people are going hungry. Food banks are struggling to keep up with the demand, not just for Thanksgiving, but for every day.

So, if you can, find a way to provide some food for someone who doesn't have enough. You can give money or in-kind food donations to your local pantry. Most grocery stores, especially around the holidays, solicit donations for the pantry as well, so it's as easy as giving a little extra when you're doing your weekly shopping. You can use that little bit that that you've been setting aside for months to donate to the Obama campaign. You might not even miss it!

Happy Thanksgiving.

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Although the personal story is mine, CaliforniaPaige was the inspiration for this post. She heard about the food bank shortage in a story on NPR and thought that it was an important message to convey.