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And last but not least from the giving front...Last night was absolutely incredible. Every single year, now eleven years strong, we’ve poured our hearts, our time, and our food into one Boise community. What started as something small has grown into something sacred. And in a year where the world feels loud and divided (and let me say this loud: this event is NOT political in any way), we still wanted to show up with love, warmth, and providing full plates.
This community has over 80% of their elementary students on free and reduced lunch. The community center is attached to the school, and their food pantry is always in need. The need is real. So our team went BIG.
50 pounds of ham. 250 pounds of turkey. Trays of homemade mashed potatoes, stuffing, mac ’n cheese, green beans, gravy, rolls, butter, cranberry sauce - everything that makes Thanksgiving feel like Thanksgiving.
But we don’t just set up a buffet and call it good. Oh no, we do it right...
Glassware. Real plates. Tablecloths, centerpieces, menus. A full hostess station, wait staff, bussers, runners, beverage service. A craft table for the little kiddos so parents can actually exhale. Dessert tables that could make a grown man cry; pies, brownies, cakes, cupcakes, you name it. We even had a photo booth donated and these families had first of full family pictures together in years.
And the best part?
It’s led by OUR kids. Many of them, like mine, have grown up doing this and look forward to it each year. We wanted them to know the gift of giving. Truthfully, to see first-hand how good they have life. To understand that one meal can change the way someone feels about their day. Their week. Maybe even their life. We wanted them to feel the weight of kindness… and also the weight of gratitude.
Last night, our community served 350 people.
Three hundred and fifty souls sat down to meals, many of them told us they never would’ve been able to have otherwise. They felt seen. They felt cared for. They felt God’s love through delicous food and honestly, so did we.
Every year, there’s one table that gets me. Every. Single. Year.
This time, it was a grandfather sitting with his young grandson. The child was eating, but he wasn’t. He just watched. He didn’t speak much English, but I was able to tell him, “You get to eat too. Free. No cost.”
His eyes lit up.
And when I brought him his plate - food he got to choose - those same eyes told me a whole story… of relief, gratitude, dignity, and God’s love pouring right into that moment. I'm not even doing it justice, truthfully, but I was moved beyound belief.
Just when I think I’m ready to pass the torch on this event… the Holy Spirit taps me on the shoulder and says, “Not yet. This is still yours.” And He’s right. I’ll come back again and again, because this is a calling.
350 people ate last night.
Because our community shows up, again and again, to do what’s right. And my heart, every year, is forever changed.
And one more thing that just about knocked the wind out of me today… all the remaining food from the event didn’t go to waste. We sent it straight to City Light, the women’s rescue mission, and they called me this afternoon. Their voices were SO full of gratitude I had to take a breath. They already have a plan for every tray of food, enough to feed 50 women a day for the next 15 days. Fifteen days of real nourishment. Fifteen days of feeling cared for. Fifteen days of knowing their community sees them and values them. Food that doesn't come out of their budget. To think that what we did together is simply giving those women and children comfort, warmth, and a full belly… honestly, I’m blown away. And my heart is just so full.
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