Thanks… and Giving
We hope you had a good Thanksgiving Day and that you are healthy and happy going into the traditional holiday season.
Transitioning from fall into winter brings lots of things to be thankful for, doesn’t it?
Some people are questioning the origins of our Thanksgiving custom with the story of the Pilgrims and all that, but this is unquestionably true: it is good to be thankful for whatever good we can find. Whether gathering with friends and family and honoring relationships, or just quietly appreciating the good in one’s own life, gratitude provides a golden glow to life. 
Here in our little community of Southern Gables, we are grateful for the success of our sponsored Neighborhood Block Parties,1 the Neighborhood Night Out2 back in September, the recent community Leaf Day3 project, and for the community spirit we see in so many ways around the neighborhood. The Southern Gables Neighborhood Association is thankful for the members who voluntarily pay dues4 to make possible those activities and more.
In December the Association Board will be meeting to discuss year-end donations to local organizations in the spirit of giving. These are organizations that provide direct benefit to our neighborhood. Over the last year or so your dues have supported donations to the The Action Center, Lakewood Police Toy Fund, Green Gables Elementary School, Carmody Middle School, and Westwoods Community Church for their community assistance programs and for Joy’s Kitchen5 which operates out of their building.
Speaking of volunteers, we were glad — thankful, that is — to have several neighbors respond to our recent call for volunteers to join the Association Board. We can still welcome more. To have a greater influence on how we spend the funds entrusted to the Association, to get to meet and appreciate more of your neighbors, and to benefit the community where we live, contact us about becoming a member of the Association Board. Lots of things just depend on how you look at them. For example, it’s kind of sad that the beauty of the winter snows has been so long denied — or is it a blessing to be enjoyed while we have it? Volunteering to help the community would be a chore you might consider “sometime” — or it could be an opportunity to expand your horizons and do something that will make you feel great!
Looking forward, we will start working on the improvements to the Green Gables School campus with the refurbishment of the walking track,6 and re-engaging with our Local Business Supporters7 to carry out our goal of “shopping local” in the spirit of neighbors supporting each other.
All of these organizations help people including our neighbors right here in Southern Gables. Moreover, they rely on the volunteer help of people including our neighbors right here in Southern Gables.
These are things for which we are thankful.
