Stories

Years ago, when I was a poor college student, some 700 miles from home, I couldn't afford to go home for Thanksgiving and Christmas like all of my friends, I had to choose one, so I chose Christmas break. All my friends went home to their families and loved ones, and I found myself alone on Thanksgiving, walking around campus feeling as low as an 18-year-old can possibly feel. I ended up eating thanksgiving dinner by myself at a "Luby's" type place, and there were a few of us poor souls in there, eating our pressed turkey and canned cranberry sauce alone and alone in our thoughts. I had recently lost my best friend to a car wreck and my grandfather to old age. It was really hard being alone, feeling alone, experiencing crushing sadness, that was a feeling I never wanted to feel again. It is forever burned into my memory, that melancholy feeling of helpless loss and isolation during what was normally a festive and fun time with loved ones and family.

Years later, while my youngest brother was attending Texas A&M, he asked if one of his friends, a foreign student he had met in class, could come for thanksgiving as he had nowhere to go and didn't really understand the concept of why Americans even had a thanksgiving holiday. I said sure, the more the merrier bring whomever you want. Well, they must have posted a flyer at the foreign student center because that day we had about 10 foreign students for thanksgiving, we demonstrated the true spirit of American Thanksgiving and that's how it all started. Opening our home to those that otherwise had nowhere to go. No questions asked, nothing expected in return.

That was around 97 or 98. In the years between then and now we have had as many as 130 and as few as 1. Every single one of them had their own story and own reasons for being alone. Every single one of them received food, fellowship and kindness. My only hope is that anyone who is alone on Thanksgiving, is alone because they want to be, not because they must be.

Our challenge to you and your club members- If you have the room and inclination, invite people over to your home that otherwise don't have anywhere to go. Advertise at your church, social media outlets etc., get the word out that you have room for them. Most will simply decline, but you might be surprised at who you know that has nowhere to go. That elderly person at church, the guy at your gym, a recent divorcee, your kids sports coach etc., just ask you will really be surprised.