For the longest time, the Second Harvest Food Shelf was right in my neighborhood. From my yard I could see the streams of people who would visit there, collect their goods, and go. There were times that were way busier, and I always felt gratitude for my own place in life–roof over my head, vehicle in the driveway, food in the fridge–but then that always sunk into sadness for those who were not as fortunate.

This time of year always floods those feelings back. I write these as I have a turkey thawing in my fridge that will become the centerpiece of Thursday’s feast. I have family that will ring around the dinner table, and we will undoubtedly enjoy each other’s company as much as the green bean casserole and the wild rice stuffing. It is heart breaking to think that not everyone gets that joy one day of a year.

The reality is, however, that people are in desperate need on more than just Thanksgiving Day. According to Feeding America, there are 37 million Americans that struggle with hunger. Homes that struggle with hunger are more likely to include children, and there are more than 11 million children who are food insecure.  So as much as these families would love a great big Thanksgiving meal, they probably would enjoy a little more security year round.

That’s why I have an extra special Vendor Spotlight this week: Your local food shelf. This holiday week, think about you could do for a local family to make their day just a little bit better. Making a food or monetary donation, spare a few minutes of your day to volunteer, share this post to encourage others to do the same…it all helps, and it all makes a difference (and maybe make that second piece of pumpkin pie taste a little bit sweeter). 

A few of the local shelters are:

Second Harvest Food Bank: This organization is based in Grand Rapids, ad serves much of North Central Minnesota.

CHUM: Churches United in Ministry (CHUM) is an inter-faith group that works to provide and serve over 8,000 individuals in need in the Duluth area.

The City of Minneapolis provides a great resource for finding a shelter there, as does St. Paul.

I have made my donation, so I hope you will join me in not just making someone’s holiday a little brighter, but their everyday a little better.

Kayla Lee is a Minnesota-based wedding and elopement photographer. She provides services to elegant, authentic, sentimental couples who not only choose their own adventures, but also live them to the fullest!