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50 For 50 #43: So Much More
This is the 43rd in a continuing series of stories--one every day for 50 days--to conclude IKRON's year-long celebration of our 50th anniversary. Missed one? No problem! See the entire series on our news page here.
Today, staff member Jen Tittermary shares what IKRON's Thanksgiving means to her:
I've been going to IKRON/GCB's Thanksgiving dinner since I started working here. All of these dinners have been memorable and have always made me feel lucky to have this experience with our participants. For many of our participants, the Thanksgiving dinner they have with IKRON is their only Thanksgiving, because they will not be celebrating with their families, and knowing that makes these dinners so much more meaningful to me.
However, one year especially dialed up just how meaningful these dinners have come to be. About eight years ago, we were enjoying our usual turkey and trimmings when one participant, John, told us that this was the first time he had ever celebrated Thanksgiving. John was 45 at the time; he said his family had never celebrated Thanksgiving when he was growing up, and then in his early adulthood he was incarcerated for 20 years. His first Thanksgiving dinner was that day with us.
In that moment, our annual Thanksgiving dinner became so much more impactful. In 14 years, I have never missed it.