Dear Friend,
On Thanksgiving eve, I find myself reflecting on the past year and the challenges it’s brought to all of us. Rhode Islanders are showing their well-known resilience through these tough times. Despite a pandemic we managed to make our voices heard through a record breaking 520,000 ballots cast safely and securely.
This Thanksgiving is definitely different for all of us. Our gatherings are in households, not in extended groups. Many of us will be visiting family and friends through virtual tools.
We are all asked to wear masks and stay socially distant. But many of us will still make the family recipes and we will be able to focus on the centerpiece of this holiday – gratitude. Gratitude for what we are able to enjoy.
Gratitude for those who serve us – our medical professionals, our educators, our first responders.
During these holidays we also remember those who are not with us anymore. For many Rhode Island families, COVID-19 has made this an even tougher holiday to get through. Let’s keep them in our prayers as we gather.
Finally, the pandemic and economic distress it has caused has left many families in our state without enough income to buy food this season. So I urge you to please help us address food insecurity in Rhode Island by supporting the
United Way of RI, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank
or any local food pantry near you with a contribution.
Again, thank you for your unwavering support. Our state is home to a remarkably diverse, talented and innovative population with so much to offer one another. I am thankful we have each other to go through these times and to prepare for a brighter future ahead.
I wish you and yours a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.
Warmly,
Nellie Gorbea
