Happy Thanksgiving 2024

Happy Thanksgiving. This is a time for expressing gratitude for the good things in life. It is a holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada on the fourth Thursday of November. The holiday originated as a harvest festival among the Pilgrims, who had fled religious persecution in England and settled in Plymouth Colony in 1620. In 1621, the Pilgrims hosted a feast to celebrate their first successful harvest and to thank the Native Americans who had helped them to survive. The tradition of Thanksgiving continued to grow in popularity throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, and in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared it a national holiday.

Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to come together and share a meal. Traditional Thanksgiving foods include turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. In addition to eating, many people also enjoy watching football games, attending parades, and volunteering in their communities.

Thanksgiving is a special time for many people. It is a time to reflect on the things we are grateful for, to spend time with loved ones, and to give back to our communities. It is a reminder that we are not alone, and that we have much to be thankful for.

As of 2024, approximately 733 million people worldwide are affected by hunger, representing about 1 in 11 people globally. This figure includes individuals facing chronic undernourishment and those experiencing acute food insecurity due to factors like conflict, climate change, and economic instability. Efforts to combat hunger face significant challenges, including rising food costs, disrupted supply chains, and political instability. While global initiatives aim to address these issues, progress toward achieving the United Nations’ Zero Hunger goal by 2030 remains slow. The consequences are serious, including malnutrition causing lifelong health consequences, increased risk of death, and reduced productivity.

Hoping we are all mindful of those not so fortunate, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Epilogue: I am sure all my readers are generous toward others, but if you are looking specifically to have an impact on hunger, you may want to take a look at World Central Kitchen.  They have created a new model for disaster relief helping devastated communities recover and establish resilient food systems. WCK has served more than 400 million meals. They have been a godsend in Ukraine, Gaza, and around the world. World Central Kitchen is a powerful example of how food can be used to have a major positive impact on the world’s people. You can learn more and donate to World Central Kitchen here.