07/05/2026
Every year, the day after the Fourth of July, I find myself reflecting on something bigger than the fireworks.
We spend Independence Day celebrating our nation's birthday and the incredible liberties and opportunities we enjoy. It's also a reminder that one of the greatest freedoms we have is the ability to serve others.
That reflection always brings me to our Community-Wide Thanksgiving Basket Project.
July is when I begin reaching out to the families, businesses, sports teams, churches, and organizations that have supported us in the past, while also inviting new people to join this incredible community effort. Every year, more schools and organizations contact me because they know families in our own community need a little extra help during the holidays—and I absolutely love that people trust this project to meet those needs.
Just look at how this project has grown:
6 ➡️ 16 ➡️ 35 ➡️ 120 ➡️ 162 ➡️ 211 school baskets!
November 2025 Recap
✨ 211 School Baskets = $31,650
Freedom – 15
Sixes – 14
Cherokee – 50
R.M. Moore – 6
Woodstock – 10
Hasty – 12
Liberty – 22
Knox – 20
Teasley – 26
E.T. Booth – 30
Creekview – 6
Plus:
💛 1 Nominated Family Basket – $150
💛 8 Teacher & Staff Baskets – $1,600
💛 10 RCB Baskets – $2,400
🎉 GRAND TOTAL: 230 BASKETS
💛 $35,800 given directly back to families in our community.
🦃 230 local families were supported during the holiday season.
And we're not done.
I've already been contacted by additional schools and organizations asking if we can help this year—including veterans in the Blue Ridge and Jasper communities. That is exactly what this project is about: people seeing a need, asking for help, and our community coming together to meet it.
As you enjoy this holiday weekend celebrating our freedoms, I hope you'll also consider how you might help someone else this Thanksgiving season.
There are so many ways to get involved:• Make a monetary donation• Shop for basket items• Donate food or supplies• Sponsor an entire basket• Share this project with others
One of my favorite things each year is seeing people commit months in advance. Knowing in July that someone is already saying, "Count me in," is such an encouragement and helps us plan for even more families.
If you'd like to donate for the first time—or you're ready to join us again this year—please comment below, and I'll add your name to our 2026 donor list.
Thank you to every person who has donated, shopped, volunteered, shared a post, or simply helped spread the word. Because of this community, hundreds of families have experienced a brighter Thanksgiving.
Let's make this year our biggest one yet. ❤️🦃
