Giving Thanks By Giving Back

Around this time of the year, many families will sit around the dinner table, give thanks and enjoy a nice warm meal together. However, others won't be so lucky.

Thanksgiving is just one reminder of how important it is, especially for those of us blessed with more, to give and to give generously. There are homeless shelters all over Los Angeles that provide food and shelter to people without a home for the holidays. More than anything, these homeless shelters provide people with a sense of community, a feeling that they belong somewhere and that they are valued and loved. Individually our contribution may be small, but together we can build something greater.

That's why I push my administration everyday to fight to provide opportunities for the less fortunate. Whether it's our commitment to build permanent supportive housing for our homeless or our work to put 100,000 hard working Angelenos into living wage jobs, everyday we are making an effort to give back.

If you want to find a place to volunteer please go to the city's volunteer directory. My prayer is that we give of ourselves, through service, not only during the holidays but year round.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.