I wish you and your family many blessings and a very happy Thanksgiving weekend! Please travel safely and eat well. I will be with my family this weekend, and giving thanks for my many blessings. But I will also take a moment to remember those I've met recently who are less fortunate.
On Monday, I helped deliver the four millionth meal for the Winston-Salem Meals-on-Wheels program. After I delivered her meal, Ms. Nancy Hooper told me how thankful she is for the volunteers. It’s more than just a warm meal those dedicated North Carolinians bring — it's a smiling face, a friendly conversation, a little bit of humanity. That can make all the difference.
On Tuesday, I spent some time at the Raleigh Rescue Mission. I spoke with many of the people there — some were recovering from addiction and others were unlucky families who are homeless for the holidays. At the children's development center, I listened to pre-schoolers of homeless mothers. Despite their situation, they were all able to list something they were thankful for — and there's nothing like the sincerity of a child to brighten your day and give you hope for the future.
Please count your blessings and give thanks this weekend. Remember your friends and neighbors who may be struggling this year; it's a rough time for many North Carolina families, but together, we will get through this. Let's all take inspiration and hope from stories like those from Meals on Wheels and the Rescue Mission — we all have something to be thankful for.