Kyle is grateful for…
I am a current law student at Duke Law, and recent Chemical Engineering graduate from the University of Florida.
Slowing down and Family
Hope and Mitch is grateful for…
2020 has taught us how to slow down. At the beginning of the year, we both felt like our days were so packed and moving non-stop. We’re thankful for the healthy boundaries that were, like creating morning and evening routines or regular date nights. Or being reminded of the importance of protecting time for our marriage and extended family.
We’ve been amazed at how close our family has gotten this year, despite not being able to be together physically. Thanks to Zoom, we’ve had weekly and biweekly calls with our inlaws. We often share with one another (as we giggle) that we’ve seen our family more this year than we ever have! Truly thankful for our relationships deepening.
The Association of South Dakota Peer Supporters are grateful for all the help we have received from our local communities.
Loran is grateful for…
ASDPS was started and it is a group of folks in Recovery from Mental Illness, and it is home to the peers. We are so thankful that we have this group now, the peer folks have somewhere to be accepted as they are. WE have done such remarkable things. as the Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness Day in Belle Fourche, complete with a program at the Belle Rec Center in the evening. We have given back in the means of gathering food all summer at our “Friday nights in the Park, a “Public Mental Health Networking Forum”, and the picture provided is us delivering the food to the Spearfish Community Food Pantry. WE have also did a drive for the Artemis House and did a successful replenishment of furniture and supplies. We give thanks and are so grateful to be able to help others out. One of our Founders, Timothy Flaskamp was also awarded the “Great Western Bank”, “Hero” Award for “Great Gifts of Gratitude”. Tim has lead a mental health group for nine years now, and since his physical demise, and mental anguish, it gave him the opportunity to be recognized for his “Giving Back and Paying Forward”. All our group of folks, volunteers all of us, go out of our way to help others, especially those who have a mental illness problems, and guide them to help. We are so grateful to be able to give back, to help our communities to understand the mentally ill better and help elevate the stigma around it. Please, give everyone a smile this year, they all need it. Our group of folks give thanks for all those folks who keep trying and we encourage them, keep trying. We give a voice to those who need it, we advocate for folks and we are all so happy to be doing it. Thank you for offering this opportunity for us to say Thank you!
For HOPE and Big Bend Homeless Coalition
Melanie is grateful for…
Homelessness is a serious social issue and as President of the Board, we are very grateful, despite the pandemic, that Big Bend Homeless Coalition, through leadership, education, advocacy, and the provision of quality services, continues to make a huge difference. This year, we served 1195 persons through our programs: HOPE Community, Patrick Avenue Townhouse Apartments, REfire Culinary, Home Place at Balkin, Home Plate, Home Front, Homeless Prevention/Rapid Rehousing, and Supportive Services for Veteran Families. None, and I mean none of this would be possible without the treasured staff, the support of the city, the county, and the United Way, the BBCoC, volunteer partners like the Junior League of Tallahassee, A Bag for HOPE, local churches (like Trinity United Methodist where I am member) and their active and caring members, and YOU! We are also very appreciative for our “HOME is Where the Heart Is” Holiday Sponsors Premier Fine Homes and Sandco LLC. Thank you all for making #WeBelieveinHOPE #WeBelieveinHOME possible. Warm regards and wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season, Melanie C. Quinton, Commercial Lender, Centennial Bank
Nonprofit Leaders
Felina is grateful for…
I have the honor of working for a nonprofit that helps other nonprofit organizations to be sustainable and thrive in the community. It is fascinating, inspiring and exhausting to witness leaders and their front-line team diligently working to ensure that the needs of others are being met and their fight to continue their mission. Whether feeding the hungry, housing the homeless or placement of the unemployed, the nonprofit sector has changed the definition of the word “pivot”. I am grateful for their efforts to continue their work, in spite of the lack of necessary financial influx to the sector. All community nonprofits are busy with the business of keeping their doors open and maintaining a work force while also providing services to those in need. And that “need” can be beyond housing, food, clothing or employment. The pandemic has reaffirmed that “we” need each other; human interaction and social connectiveness. Nonprofits meet those needs as well through volunteerism, special events, festivals and more. Cheers to all of those passionate, servant leaders who work for nonprofits. Thank you.
My rescue pup, Bulleit the Tallahassee Downtown Coonhound! @shootin_bulleit on Instagram
BillieAnne is grateful for…
It was a rainy, gloomy day in 2014 when this runaway pup found me in the Lincoln High School Parking lot. She’s been my running partner, travel buddy, and chief taste tester ever since.
I am grateful for the blessings I can’t see.
Bruan is grateful for…
I have been blessed with an awesome wife, a good job, and many years of life that at times I take for granted. The past couple years have been extremely challenging for my family but through it all we remain strong and resilient. I am grateful for the people in my life that have uplifted and encouraged me and given me the drive to be the best I can be. I am particularly grateful and thankful for a young man who has emerged from tragedy to triumph and has given my life meaning and made me proud to be a father. Thank you Chris for being an amazing son.
Our employees at the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega, AL
Doug is grateful for…
Dear Employees of the Presbyterian Home for Children,
We have entered the holiday season, beginning with Thanksgiving. In spite of the national pandemic brought about by COVID 19, we have a tremendous amount of blessings of which to be both thankful and grateful.
No one could have predicted the events of the last nine months. Our nation, and many nations of the world impacted by the pandemic are frantically searching for treatments, vaccines and cures for arguably the worse pandemic seen in our lifetime. So many of you have managed this crisis with bravery, compassion and care for the welfare of others.
You have handled the responsibility of our ministry to serve others with a spirit of love.
Being an essential agency, we have not been able to close our facility. And it is because of your dedication and commitment to your calling that we have been able to continue to carry out our call to serve.
Each of you have been touched in some way by COVID-19. Some have experienced loss, and for that we grieve with you. We are grateful for the service of many, to help those impacted by this horrible pandemic. Let us all continue to pray for one another that we remain strong in the commitment to fight this virus until we are victorious!
We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Psalms 7:17
Thank you for your service!
Doug Marshall
President and CEO
Felicia Ayers Storey
Vice-President of Program Operations and Services
Our employees at the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega, AL
Doug is grateful for…
Dear Employees of the Presbyterian Home for Children,
We have entered the holiday season, beginning with Thanksgiving. In spite of the national pandemic brought about by COVID 19, we have a tremendous amount of blessings of which to be both thankful and grateful.
No one could have predicted the events of the last nine months. Our nation, and many nations of the world impacted by the pandemic are frantically searching for treatments, vaccines and cures for arguably the worse pandemic seen in our lifetime. So many of you have managed this crisis with bravery, compassion and care for the welfare of others.
You have handled the responsibility of our ministry to serve others with a spirit of love.
Being an essential agency, we have not been able to close our facility. And it is because of your dedication and commitment to your calling that we have been able to continue to carry out our call to serve.
Each of you have been touched in some way by COVID-19. Some have experienced loss, and for that we grieve with you. We are grateful for the service of many, to help those impacted by this horrible pandemic. Let us all continue to pray for one another that we remain strong in the commitment to fight this virus until we are victorious!
We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Psalms 7:17
Thank you for your service!
Doug Marshall
President and CEO
Felicia Ayers Storey
Vice-President of Program Operations and Services
Friends, family, in particular my mom, beautiful sister, amazing niece and nephew. Also, my fiancé and our three boys
Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki is grateful for…
I am grateful for friends, family in particular my mother who was going through cancer up until my inauguration and then chemo afterwards. Seeing the fact that she has beaten cancer and gotten through 2020 with such strive and courage. It’s such an inspirational story that uplifts everyone. I’m also thankful for my beautiful sister and my amazing niece and nephew. 2020 would have not been complete without a thanks to my fiancé, Jake Bergman and our three boys who i’m so excited to eventually become their vice moms. So 2020 has been hard for all of us but we have to remember to give thanks to the friends and family and to make sure we are waking up every day inspired to what comes ahead of us.