Giving with thanks….

Just days prior to Thanksgiving, to express their thanks for volunteers of food pantries and community agencies, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, families, leaders and missionaries of various LDS Church congregations in northern Missouri combined their efforts with The Willis Elliott Orchard in Spickard to share the harvest from their apple orchard. The Willis Elliott Orchard is owned by members Tim and Tanya Richardson.

Some members purchased the apples, while others drove many miles to transport the apples to yet other members who would deliver over 1,000 pounds of apples and apple recipes to the wonderful volunteers and leaders of the Green Hills Community Food Pantry, and the Gallatin Seventh Day Adventist Community Pantry, under the leadership of Bill and Karen Reed. They will add the apples to their supplies of commodities serving hundreds of families in need across Daviess County and Grundy County.

As we remember all that we are thankful for throughout the year, it is perhaps this particular season that we think of those individuals and families who are without many basic needs. We may sometimes, however, forget to give thanks to those caring volunteers and workers who sacrifice endless hours, extending to the many families in need within our community.

It is in this spirit of Christ-like "giving" that we care for one another, which will strengthen families and individuals while knitting hearts together in service.