Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a special holiday here for two reasons: the obvious reason, of course, but it is also special to us because it marks the beginning of Shepherd Community Center twenty-five years ago. Shepherd was born in the compassionate hearts of a Westside suburban church; of a pastor who told his congregation to plan a Thanksgiving dinner for the poor before they planned their own; of ordinary people who chose kindness over their own comfort and convenience—this is our heritage. This is our legacy. This is our inheritance.

As they have for twenty-five years, volunteers from Westside Church of the Nazarene came to Shepherd to serve Thanksgiving meals on Saturday, November 20. There were two dinners and two worship services, one in English and one for our Spanish speaking neighbors, and we were honored to serve about 400 guests.

After sharing a meal with us, we make sure that our guests can also make a meal to share. And so, on Sunday, November 21, volunteers from Indian Creek Christian Church came to Shepherd to deliver more than 800 Thanksgiving Baskets. The "baskets" are plastic tubs that are filled with all the groceries necessary for a Thanksgiving dinner, including a gift certificate for a turkey.

On one hand, it's just food--you wouldn't expect someone's life to change with one meal; on the other hand, it's hope--and the tiniest spark of hope can make a warming, illuminating blaze.

Thank you for all you have given. By large ways and by small, gifts of love and hope help to break the cycle of poverty.

NEW THIS YEAR-- Shepherd is partnering with the Mozel Sanders Thanksgiving Dinner. Volunteers will help on Thanksgiving Day to deliver about 40,000 hot Thanksgiving dinners; about 300 of those will be prepared at Shepherd. If you would like to volunteer for the Mozel Sanders Dinner at Shepherd (or at other locations around Indianapoils), please call 317-423-3620, or visit their website.