Stuffing, cranberry sauce and cans of yams. From soup to nuts and nearly everything in-between, the staff of The Glenholme School pulled through once again to ensure a happy Thanksgiving dinner would be had by all.

The call came to Glenholme for the 8th year seeking assistance to fill baskets of food for distribution by the VNA NW to families in the Litchfield, Washington and Torrington areas whose holiday would otherwise be a dispirited time, indeed. With flyers posted about the campus encouraging donations our staff brought offerings to nearly fill ten boxes.

Never willing to be left out of a community service project, the children of Glenholme, both old and young, gave their own donations of self. Working side-by-side with their staff, the students approached the mission by adding a creative edge to the holiday. While residential staff assisted students in thematic decoration of the boxes, others shopped to round out any ingredients missing from the bounty. Girls baked homemade pumpkin pies under the supervision of our own Martha Stewartesque Food Service Coordinator while our Librarian helped students create Turkey Books filled with fun facts about the noble bird. Four boys headed to the northwest corner with a Direct Care staff and made the presentation to a delighted Visiting Nurses Association.

Faculty, staff, students - all working together with a duel focus. To give thanks for the plenty that we can enjoy and to give hope to those who occasionally need encouragement and inspiration. Along the way we all get a lesson in wearing a cloak of the unassuming nature of giving that becomes our second skin.