Random Act of Kindness

[miaumiau]

Thanksgiving is almost here and this year most of my family members are not going to be in town. After I've read a post on another site about donating a thanksgiving dinner to families in need, I decided I would like to adopt a family or two.

I've been blessed throu out this year, being able to deal with several unexpected events, with my dad being laid off and my mom's business losing a chunk of money, my two car accidents (both weren't my fault) and my brother's tumor ordeal (after all the expensive testa and exams, turned out it wasn't as bad as the doc thought, but by then we had already trapped in debt of medical and credit card bills).

Right now I am working 75 to 80 hours a week (two jobs) trying to pay off my debts, and it's going great! I'm so glad that everything turns out fine, and I'm thankful and grateful of all the helps I received from people which had got me thru the worst time in my life. So now I would like to do something meaningful in return.

I searched online for the phone numbers of my county's family and children's services, and after countless transferred calls, I finally got in contact with a lady in charge of the "adopt a family" program. After expressing my intention, she was glad to find me some families that are in need and would have a case worker returned my call in a day or two. But then she gave me a call back within an hour with the case worker on her side and gave me info of two families that would love to have thanksgiving dinner donated to them. She was worried about my safety at first thinking I would deliver the dinner alone, but I assured her my fiance will accompany me that day. God bless her heart, such a sweet lady.

After I had the size of the family in mind, I gave a nearby HEB a call and ordered two sets of turkey dinner package for pick up on Thanksgiving morning. Everything is set and ready to go.

I'm so excited and can't wait for thanksgiving day. God has been giving me his blessing and I would like to share it with others who need it more than me.

[Darlene]

How wonderful! Happy Thanksgiving to you!

[sueh]

What a wonderful thing that you are doing. I bet those families will be thrilled when you arrive with Thanksgiving dinner for them.
God Bless!

[dmvezina]

Bless your heart!!!
It is so wonderful that you can do this for these families!
There are so many families this year from all the natural disasters that are in need of assistance!

Your generosity brings tears to my eyes.

[yankeegal]

miaumiau-Your act of generousity is truly what the holiday season is about. God bless you.

[emily_hope]

That is just wonderful. God Bless you and Happy Thanksgiving!

[lottaLove]

What a wonderful and selfless thing to do for another family. Two families will get to enjoy an amazing meal that they wouldn't otherwise have thanks to your generosity. God bless you and have a happy Thanksgiving.

[SammeyG]

When I was in a club in high school we did that one year for thanks giving for Thanksgiving and christmas. That was when I was really into community(SP) service. Mostly for Easter Seals. Beacuse my step- mother worked for ES. But when my club did the adopt a family is wasn't tied into that. It brought me joy to see joy on that family's faces when we came. Espcially during christmas.

[miaumiau]

Last year and the beginning of this year was really tough for us. My brother was diagnosed with a lump between the end of his tongue and his throat, so he could barely talk or eat. We went thru 4 doctors, and the last one was an oral cancer specialist(I don't remember the term for that). Everyday I had to liquify his food with blender, and I felt so guilty to have him see me eat any "real food", so I ate the same liquid food with him thru out the entire time (there it went my 15 lbs, just like that).
We didn't want to tell our parents who are living out of state until we were 100% sure of the diagnosis result. So every week when we called back home, my brother had to tell my mom that he had a serious cold and his throat hurted so badly that he couldn't talk much. We knew our parents would be devastated if we told them. Towards the ends, we could no longer hiding it from them as his lump is clogged his blood flow on the tongue that the doc suggested he might have that part of his tongue removed (if the surgery goes as planned and is successful, and the success rate of this kind of surgery is only 20%).
At that time, we all thought he's not going to make it. BUT it turned out to be a false alarm (by that time we had almost maxed out all our credit cards to pay the living expenses and medical expenses when his health insurance didn't cover them). You can't imagine how HAPPY, RELIEVED and GRATEFUL we were when the doc announced it. We were like jumping up and down, bursted into tears.....

After all we went thru, I've come to realize a person's wealth is health, family and happiness. Nothing else matters.

So on this Thanksgiving day, I want to make this day to be what it's supposed to mean. I'm thanking God and everyone that has helped us getting thru the tough time, by giving a little joy to those less fortunate families on this particular day.

I went to HEB over the weekend to double check the order with the Bakery manager (Mike, thank you so much), and the menu sounds yummy~


For the first family (actually it is two families, since the first family can't afford the rent and living expenses, so they have another family move in to living in a small place sharing the expenses, total 8 people, 4 of them are kids)
1) 10 lbs fully cooked turkey
2) 2.5 lbs. Cornbread Stuffing
3) 2.5 lbs. Creamy Mashed Potatoes
4) 2 lbs. Green Bean Casserole
5) 2 lbs. Broccoli and Rice Casserole
6) 2 lbs. Sweet potatoes Casserole
7) 24 oz. Turkey Giblet Gravy
8) 16 oz. Cranberry Relish
9) 2 dozens dinner rolls
10) 2 lit Coke

For the second family (5 people, 3 kids)
1) 10 lbs fully cooked turkey
2) 2.5 lbs. Cornbread Stuffing
3) 2.5 lbs. Creamy Mashed Potatoes
4) 2 lbs. Green Bean Casserole
5) 2 lbs. Sweet potatoes Casserole
6) 24 oz. Turkey Giblet Gravy
7) 16 oz. Cranberry Relish
8) 1 dozens dinner rolls
9) 1 lit Coke

The funny thing is, this year me and my fiance aren't having any turkey or thanksgiving dinner, we are going to be taken in by a generious friend of mine that night. WE ARE BEING ADOPTED!!!!

[dmvezina]

I'm glad your brother will be ok!!!!

And all that sounds wonderful!

[oct2667us]

Just when you think the world is getting so bad .People like the ones in the Village come are ound do really great things for outher people. Hugsssssss to all

[favesis37]

God bless you! it was so thoughtful of you to do that!

[nwmissourigal]

God blesses those who are faithful. I truly believe that it is better to give than recieve...What a wonderful thing you are doing...Blessings to you and yours..Kathy

[ironmaiden]

Here's an idea ..

How about including a couple of recipes for the leftovers?
Turkey chili
Turkey pot pie - or with biscuit topping
Turkey fajitas
Turkey soup from the carcass

[marie_squared]

this inspires me to really think about all the stuff i have that i never use, that someone else might really be able to do something productive with.

beautiful post.
thank you for sharing.