I hope everyone’s out (or in) enjoying the long holiday weekend! I feel very blessed to have a roof over my head (it’s raining out) and just finished eating a simple snack of a yummy delicious apple and a piece of wheat bread, and gave my cats an afternoon tidbit of turkey. I know I’m one of the lucky ones.

Right now in our community, there are so many who have no one to turn to in tough times. They don’t have a parent they can call and say, “Can I come home for dinner?” or a friend they can ask for $20 to tide them over ‘til payday. And many of those struggling the hardest have children or aging parents who are dependent upon them for the simplest, but most soul-nourishing, necessity of having enough food on the table.

The tremendous need in our community can seem overwhelming; especially when we all are facing our own individual challenges. It’s easy to think we don’t have much to offer someone else. But just a tidbit from those of us who do have — one can of donated food, one dollar unspent on a coffee and donated instead to a charitable organization — can add up to be a whole lot for those who don’t have.

If you have the ability to help another this Thanksgiving weekend — with a tiny tidbit of change or a few dollars or more — I invite any and all of my “reality readers” to participate in this year’s All Faiths Food Bank fundraising drive — it’s not too late to contribute … and every penny helps heal hunger in our community.

If you’re interested in donating money through the 2010 MC Reality Readers fundraising campaign to help feed the hungry this holiday season — click here for details.

And if you are in need, if you’re circumstances seem so down you’re not sure how you’ll ever get back up, know that you are not alone – your community is here with you.