Community Goes All In for Special Thanksgiving Luncheon

October 23, 2024

By Christina Kaiser
Community Relations Director

Communities Connected for Kids unveiled its Co-Parenting Thanksgiving Luncheon in 2019 to give families the opportunity to celebrate the holiday with their children in foster care.

Like many things launched just before the COVID-19 pandemic, subsequent luncheons were put on the backburner - until now.

We are so proud to bring back this wonderful, mission-focused event in 2024 and even prouder of the community that is stepping up to help us fund it.

A single ask on Facebook has already resulted in more than $2,000 in sponsorships and donations, which will be used to buy turkeys, hams and all the Thanksgiving dressings, as well as providing fun activities for attending families. We will highlight those sponsors in the days to come, on our Facebook and Instagram accounts and in future newsletters.

I am searching for pretty words to tell you why this event is so important to us. But it occurs to me that those words may not be necessary. This event works because of how simple it is, because most people - lucky people - understand the importance of family, connection and second chances.

This event allows children to share a meal and a few hours of fun with the most important people in their lives: their families and their caregivers. It strengthens bonds between caregiver and family, making later transitions easier for the children who love them all, and demonstrates that people can come back from their mistakes with help and support.

To me, it's the most mission-focused event we host all year. I'm so happy to be part of it, and I'm very, very happy that so many in the community see it the same way.

The Co-Parenting Thanksgiving Luncheon is scheduled for Nov. 16 and will host eight families by invitation. Our sponsorship levels are $250 and $100, but donations in any amount can be made via our PayPal account, which you can access HERE.