Opinion: We’re thankful for all who help Father Joe’s support those in need

The finish line for the holiday run File photo dourtesy of Father s Joe s As the sun rises on Thanksgiving morning thousands of people line up at Balboa Park Toddlers bounce in strollers Dogs tug at their leashes Runners stretch out their calves just behind the starting line Costumed characters including Feather Joe are scattered through this crowd For thousands of families the Father Joe s Villages Thanksgiving Turkey Trot has become a beloved annual tradition It is this very tradition and the numerous other strategies that families gather to give back that ensures that our neighbors are able to celebrate the holidays with dignity and hope What Thanksgiving should be at its heart is a time for families to come together and to reflect back with gratitude on what they hold near and dear even when times are hard Yet numerous of our clients lack family and friends on whom they can rely They are not cheering their loved ones on at a Turkey Trot They are not coming home to see relatives visiting from afar For multiple people and their families living on the streets life is about finding a safe place to sleep and enough food to eat Such isolation increases one s menace for physical condition conditions such as heart complaint depression type diabetes and even dementia Something changes when these same neighbors decide to come to our special annual Thanksgiving meal People a large number of of whom are celebrating Thanksgiving for the first time in years sit down among friends new and old to a warm meal They laugh they share stories A large number of leave with connections to materials an appointment with a episode manager or a visit to our medicinal clinic or perhaps even sign up for a spot within our Employment and Tuition Services center Something as simple as a meal is also no small thing For years now the San Diego Hunger Coalition has detected that upwards of one out of every four San Diegans struggle with food protection The impact of food insecurity only compounds for people who are also experiencing homelessness The combined stresses of hunger malnutrition and a lack of a safe place to sleep can lead to wellness issues both short and long-term that can make it even more tough for people to have the resource to leave homelessness behind for good The authorities shutdown in October and the resulting chaos around whether SNAP benefits would be published at all threatened to drive even more San Diegans into hunger speaking to just how precarious life can be for our majority vulnerable neighbors It takes only one campaign being cut or rolled back to threaten thousands of people and their families with the spectre of poverty and make those already experiencing homelessness or housing instability even more vulnerable For this reason we are preponderance grateful to our neighbors who have given their time and support whether that be running in our turkey trot donating a gift to a toy drive volunteering at our food pantry donating funds or even asking our local leaders to stand against budget cuts that threaten programs that sponsorship vulnerable San Diegans It is exactly this kind of advocacy that makes it viable for us to help our neighbors weather whatever may come But behind just surviving your gifts ensure that the holidays are truly a time for all to be grateful It is by coming together that during the holidays and beyond we will come ever closer to a Thanksgiving Day where no one in our region is without a roof over their heads a full belly and a home full of loved ones and laughter That is what families and runners leave behind when they saunter away from the finish line to catch their breath on Thanksgiving morning hope that this future may come sooner rather than later If you are among those who have given back thank you Your assistance means more than I can say If you have not yet I hope you can join us in being a beacon of hope Deacon Jim Vargas is president and CEO of Father Joe s Villages Want to submit a letter to the editor guest column or opinion piece Find our guidelines and submission form here