Episcopal Relief & Development

(0) My Cart

Contact Us Donate Now
menu
search
  • What We Do
    • Priorities
      • Women
      • Children
      • Climate
    • Integrated Approach
      • Agriculture
      • Asset-Based Community Development
      • Clean Water
      • Disaster Resilience
      • Gender Equality & GBV
        • 16 Days of Activism Toolkit
        • Ending GBV in Liberia
      • Global Goals
      • Malaria – NetsforLife®
      • Maternal & Child Health
        • Early Childhood Development
      • Micro-finance
      • Sanitation & Hygiene
    • US Disaster Program
      • Emergency Responses
      • LONG-TERM RECOVERY PROGRAMS
      • Disaster Help
      • Faith-Based Response to Epidemics + Pandemics
      • Why Prepare?
      • Episcopal Asset Map
      • Resource Library
      • Lamplight
    • COVID-19 Pandemic Response
  • Where We Work
    • Africa
      • Angola
      • Burundi
      • The Democratic Republic of Congo
      • Ghana
      • Kenya
      • Liberia
      • Malawi
      • Mozambique
      • Namibia
      • South Sudan
      • Tanzania
      • Zambia
      • Zimbabwe
    • Asia
      • Myanmar [Burma]
      • The Philippines
      • Solomon Islands
      • Sri Lanka
      • Vanuatu
    • Latin America & the Caribbean
      • Brazil
      • Colombia
      • Cuba
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Haiti
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
    • Middle East
      • Jerusalem / West Bank / Gaza
      • Jordan
    • United States
  • Who We Are
    • Mission and Mandate
    • History
    • Financials and Annual Reports
      • Financials Archive
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Board And Staff
      • Board of Directors
      • Staff
  • What You Can Do
    • ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE
    • Give
      • Donate Now
      • Sustainers Circle
      • Planned Giving
        • Matthew 25 Legacy Society
      • Other Giving Opportunities
        • Corporate Matching
        • Honor and Memorial Gifts
        • Gifts of Stock or Securities
        • Combined Federal Campaign
        • IRA Charitable Rollover Gifts
      • Our Pledge to Donors
    • Stay Informed
      • Blog
      • Sign Up
      • Newsletters
        • Seek & Serve – Newsletter
        • US Disaster News
    • Volunteer
      • Volunteer – Ready to Serve
      • Become a Ministry Partner
      • Great Ideas to Help Make a Difference
    • Careers
  • Press & Resources
    • 2021 Press Releases
      • 2021 Lenten Meditations Focus on Lament
      • Las Meditaciones Cuaresmales 2021
      • Episcopal Relief & Development Welcomes Four New Board Members
    • 2020 Press Releases
      • Responding to Storms in the Gulf Coast
      • Emergency Assistance After Typhoons in The Philippines
      • Responding to Hurricanes in Latin America
      • COVID-19 Pandemic Response
    • Stories
      • 2020 in Review: Stories of Lasting Change
      • My 2021 New Year’s Resolution: Hope
      • The Irrational Season
      • The Gifts of St. Nicholas
    • Photo + Video
    • Online press kit
    • Media contact information
  • Church in Action
    • Lent
    • ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE
    • Church Resources
      • Worship Resources
      • Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday
      • Prayers
      • Bulletin Inserts
      • Materials
    • Christian Formation
      • Abundant Life Garden Project®
      • Coloring Book
Home | Stories | Thankful in 2020? Absolutely!

Thankful in 2020? Absolutely!

share
Basket with pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, and other seasonal vegetables

Thanksgiving. The word fills our minds, hearts and senses with thoughts, memories, sounds, smells and images – family gatherings, chaotic kitchens, tables filled with scrumptious food, raucous laughter, huddling around the television to watch the Macy’s Day Parade and football games, tossing around a football with family and friends and countless other traditions. It is also, of course, a time to give thanks.

Thanksgiving 2020. Hmm. Bitter divisions in our country. Global pandemic. Too many deaths. Millions of jobs lost. Lives disrupted with lost loved ones, livelihoods and normalcy. Those who are fortunate enough to work from home now juggle home-schooling with everything else. Everything from worship to book clubs to bridge games to birthday parties going virtual. We are weary. We grieve. We miss being with family and friends. We miss being able to safely share a hug, squeeze of the hand or pat on the back.

With Thanksgiving Day approaching, we ache for what we have lost. Many of us will not gather with family or friends in light of the pandemic. Those who manage to gather will do so in distanced ways, perhaps with an empty chair at the table.

And yet, we have much to be grateful for. Many of us are grateful for our health. All of us are grateful for healthcare workers; for farmers, drivers and grocery store workers who get food on our tables; for pharmacists, sanitation workers, police officers and all essential workers who meet our needs; for tech wizards who have kept us connected and taught us new ways to reach each other; for neighbors and friends who visit with us at a safe distance.

I am profoundly grateful for Episcopal Relief & Development’s program partners. Undaunted by the pandemic, they remain committed to the work of helping children thrive during the critical first one thousand days of life; promoting gender equality and reducing violence against women; embracing sustainable agriculture; and responding to the relentless fires, hurricanes and other disasters in 2020 – including the pandemic itself.

I am also thankful for everyone whose financial support makes this work possible. We could not do it without you.

Yes, even in 2020, much to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!


Josephine Hicks is Vice President for Episcopal Church Programs at Episcopal Relief & Development.
Sign up for News
Order Gifts for Life!

Read the Latest Stories

Thankful in 2020? Absolutely!

Thankful in 2020? Absolutely!

Save Children, Save the World

Save Children, Save the World

Quick Links

2017 Hurricane Season
Response 

Prayers for Those
Affected by Disaster

Faith-based Response to Epidemics

The Episcopal Asset Map 

The Resource Library

Subscribe to Lamplight

Preparedness Resources

Resources & Learning

Click below to access our Resource Library and learn more about our efforts around the world.

Discover

BECOME A PRAYER PARTNER

ACCOMPANY US IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY AND DURING TIMES OF CELEBRATION

Join Today
Episcopal Relief & Development
QUICK LINKS
  • Who We Are
  • Sign Up
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Connect With Us
  • 1.855.312.4325
  • info@episcopalrelief.org
© 2021 Episcopal Relief & Development
  • Privacy Statement
  • Sitemap

Sign up to receive the latest stories.

15987