Happy Holidays From ALMS
We Have So Much to Be Thankful For
Recently, I was reminded of the Charlie Brown story – “What’s Christmas all about?” he asked. Last night I asked our students at the ALMS holiday dinner to share their favorite memory, encouraging them to reflect on meaningful moments. A couple said they looked forward to being with family. Their examples ranged from small, intimate gatherings to large, all-night parties. But most of them struggled to come up with a standout story. One said her family didn’t celebrate holidays, and she wanted to go back to Pakistan to see them. It made me think of what ALMS might have done to change the holidays for our youth.
Last month, a student from 2019 asked to come to my home so she could make chocolate chip banana bread to take to her boyfriend’s family for Thanksgiving. She was very excited and purchased all the ingredients for the day of baking. We had a lovely time that Saturday, but I was surprised when she asked me to keep her bread until Wednesday. I knew she did not have an oven at home to bake the bread, and I was happy to provide one. But that didn’t explain her leaving the bread at my house instead of taking it with her.
She told me she had roaches in her apartment. They were everywhere because of the other tenants. The bread was not even safe in their microwave or refrigerator.
You can imagine my horror. But then I realized that she trusted me enough to tell me this. She trusted me enough to hold onto her bread. But most importantly, this was the first holiday that she could participate in bringing something to her boyfriend’s family table that she was proud of – something she baked with her own hands.
May your holiday season be full of cheer. May you touch a life this season in some meaningful way. And, may you focus on the victories of the year – not the shame. There is so much to be thankful for.
Remember ALMS in your Year-End Giving!
Happy Holidays From All of Us to All of You
Jayne Williams | 916.769.5162 | jayne@almsinyolo.org
