In most communities in America today there are young families struggling to make ends meet. These are essential workers, first time home buyers and two income families juggling childcare who are new to their careers and often the first to go when companies struggle.

Right now lots of companies are struggling and so are these young families! What can we do to help? School systems are financially strapped! City governments face other pressing needs. These fragile families need help so they, their children and their community can thrive!

When the government shut down hit November 2025 families in Lakewood, Colorado had already been stressed out for weeks. In a perfect world no child would grow up watching their parent’s worry about putting food on the table but this year those fears were realized at the worst possible time…just before the holidays!

Foothills Elementary school https://foothills.jeffcopublicschools.org/ enjoys the support of concerned teachers and staff as well as a network of community partners including churches, businesses and neighborhood associations. Just before Thanksgiving break school staff member Katy and two teachers, Erica and Emma circulated a sign-up sheet for families who were afraid of running out of food that week…52 responded!

Lutheran Church of the Master https://www.lcmonline.org/ is a fellowship of 80-100 members and sits just 1 mile from Foothills. The partnered with a neighboring Christ on the Mountain Catholic church to provide 52 food kits that included fresh baked goods, fruit bread and the most important ingredient: love! Community love is a vital antidote to fear!

Here’s a picture of the Thanksgiving food bags at Foothills

52 families living on the west side of Lakewood enjoyed Thanksgiving week this year because 52 bags of food and love were shared with them by a caring network of community members and educators who made their compassion tangible just in the nick of time!

We hope this Thanksgiving story encourages you to look around, notice need and seek appropriate ways to encourage others and grow the joy in our world one relationship at a time!