A mix of old and new traditions, along with big helpings of generosity, made for a very happy Thanksgiving at Neighborhood House this year.

Neighborhood House was proud to host 80 people at the annual Giving Thanks dinner on November 20.  As usual, The House provided traditional main dishes – turkey, stuffing, potatoes – and guests brought desserts and sides to share, including 7 pies, 3 cakes, cookies, potato salad, turkey, stuffing, green beans, dinner rolls, and garden parsnips. A fabulous crew of new volunteers from Hudson Business Lounge helped serve the meal, and Milwaukee Police Officers Osmanski and Van Drisse stopped by to work the welcome desk. Ten lucky guests took home turkeys for their families. University of Kids Club reprised their disco dance routine for parents and friends.

At our International Learning Center on 25th Street, Hunger Task Force hosted a grand turkey give-away, now in its second year. Over a hundred refugee families took home turkeys after learning about American Thanksgiving traditions in ESL class.

And for the first time, Neighborhood House participated in a new post-thanksgiving tradition – Giving Tuesday, a community effort to give back to our communities. Many thanks to those who included Neighborhood House in their Giving Tuesday donations, and to all the generous supporters who give of themselves, their time and talents, and their abundance. This year we are thrilled that all 32 Family Dollar stores in Milwaukee are collecting toys for our Holiday Pageant on December 19, and that hearts – and hands – will be warmed by “Mittens & More” from MPTV.

There’s a lot to be thankful for in the Neighborhood!