Staff members put the ‘giving’ in Thanksgiving

    NAME DEPARTMENT Staff members put the ‘giving’ in Thanksgiving
    Linda Canales Yale Medicine, Administration I am the co-chair for the Home Life Committee with the Hamden Women’s Club. I determine who, what, and when the community is in need and get the women to support the cause. This year I was able to collect 25 turkeys along with a dozen bags of canned and boxed goods and ten pounds of potatoes, all to be given to St Ann’s Soup Kitchen for their Thanksgiving meal. It is a good feeling to be able to give what is needed to those who are so appreciative. 
    Meridith Cayer Physician Associate Program I give a handwritten note, along with my dish, to the hosts/hostesses telling them how I’m thankful for having them in my life. Handwritten notes are a lost, but appreciated, art these days! 
    Lauren Langford Office of Development Excited to give of ourselves this year by hosting our first Friendsgiving!  We will give time, energy, and homemade dinner rolls. 
    Tammy Stalmack Pathology This time every year my family donates winter clothing items and clothes to a New Haven Church that a family friend belongs to and knows of many people that would benefit and deeply appreciate these items. We also do the same with new gifts for Christmas.
    Hayley Lindsey Neurology  I spend time with friends and family that I do not normally get to see! I cook a dish for Thanksgiving dinner, and prepare for my younger cousin’s birthday party, which is usually the weekend after Thanksgiving! I take stock of all the things I am thankful for this year, and think about how I can use my strengths and talents to help my community. 
    Jennifer Gambaccini-Denillo Pediatrics I go out to speak with the homeless and pass out gift cards. I bought a tent, clothing, raincoats, and back packs for two gentlemen who I tried to connect with services at CMHC.
    Stacy Downer Yale Fleet Management The ideal of holiday giving can at times be very fleeting. I have learned to be and give thanks for the kindness of others towards me and others. When I give it is to encourage others to be compassionate or to bring forth change. The giving in my Thanksgiving is coming around the dinner table, breaking bread, being grateful, and sharing an idea of how we all can extend the possibility for growth to another human being. 
    Travis Access services sml I put the thanks in thanksgiving for all god has done for me— giving me life, my family, and a job to earn a living, I’m forever thankful.
    Theresa Odyniec Emergency Medicine I help with food drives.
    Anna Florczak YHP Yale Health I’ve spent many Thanksgivings serving a meal to the needy through church, but this year I’m donating a turkey to Foodshare. 
    Lauren Linn YSM Financial Operations Our niece requires a special diet to be safe and healthy.  It is an honor to have her with us for the day and to cook a nutritious yet delicious meal for her, so that she can eat Thanksgiving dinner with the rest of our family without feeling singled out.
    Dina Ardito Palliative Care, Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine I help prep, cook, clean her house and keep my sister company on the eve of Thanksgiving. She is a single mother and is alone every year on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. She invites her entire family over for Thanksgiving day.
    Claire M. Bessinger YSM Communications Thanksgiving is only a small part of the giving that I do year round—many family and friends bring me items that they no longer want or need but are still very usable. Everything from small appliances and furniture, to toys and books, and clothing for men, women and children.  I sort, clean, and find the best recipients for all of these items throughout the year. Men’s/women’s suits and clothing go to the Veterans associations; other more casual clothing, and coats, shoes and boots, household items, appliances, books, and toys go to organizations who help battered women and children. These groups are most appreciative and I feel that I recycle items that may have otherwise wound up in the trash.  To me it’s time well spent to help others in need as well as keep good usable items from the landfill.
    Rick Davis Development My wife and kids and I are again working the early shift serving Thanksgiving day lunch at a Danbury food pantry. It’s the smallest of ways to give back, but hugely rewarding for all of us!
    Karina Julius Yale Medicine Learning & Development, Technology Training Our entire team (from Yale Medicine Administration) volunteered at the Connecticut Food Bank, packing over 4000 (!) pounds of butternut squash to be sent out across the state to those who are needy.  It was a tremendously rewarding experience for everyone on the team!!  
    Grace Frith Finance Thanksgiving for me is not just about enjoying a feast with family. For me, it is about giving back to the community and the less fortunate in society. I’ve ventured on this mission wholeheartedly since last year with my church, as I realize that there are so many who can not afford to purchase the turkey for their families.  This past Saturday, we gave away 500 turkeys to the less fortunate in the community (Bronx) and it was the best thing ever just to see their faces and to know that you helped to make their Thanksgiving a reality.  Giving back to others should come naturally and I think that’s one of the reasons we are on earth— to share!
    Bernie Staggers Yale Center for the British Arts I put the giving in Thanksgiving by remembering to be thankful every day for everything and everyone. I try to give everything I have been graciously given by paying it forward and giving to those I come across, the most simple of things, a smile and a warm hello.
    Elizabeth Harnett Yale University Art Gallery Through my church (Bethesda Lutheran) I coordinate a shelter meal at Immanuel Baptist Shelter (Emergency Shelter Management Services) once a month for 75 men.
    Lori Robinson Yale Medicine, Patient Financial Services I donate food to our local food bank and invite out-of-the-country students or researchers to my home for Thanksgiving to enjoy it with my family.
    Justin DeLand Yale College Undergraduate Production By finding some time during the Thanksgiving holiday to volunteer, letting my friends and family know I care for them, and of course by donating to the United Way!
    Emily Gordon Communications, Yale SOM By giving 100% of my attention to the people I love (and my new puppy!). That means putting down my phone, turning off the podcasts, ungluing myself from Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and enjoying all the sights, sounds, smells, voices, laughter, and even the awkward moments of a holiday gathering. 
    Danielle Farrell Child Study Center Every year my family donates turkeys to turkey drives in our hometown so families in need can have a proper Thanksgiving dinner. 
    Jen Rispoli  Pediatrics Go through clothing and give all I don’t wear to the needy. Donate food, help serve, and just be kind to people that could use a shoulder to lean on.
    Ann Sousa Cardiovascular Medicine Provide food for the local food drive for families, invite people for Thanksgiving that do not have a place to go, and visit local nursing homes during the holiday.
    Barbara Corcoran Yale Law School Conference and Events My culture (and many others) shows love through food so you can imagine what an important part food plays in celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday. I can’t imagine anyone going hungry at Thanksgiving so we give generously at this time of year to the Connecticut Food Bank.  For $1 they can serve 2 meals.  I feel my donation brings a lot of love to many, many hungry people. It’s humbling to know you can make a difference.
    Christi Papa Office of the Provost I give back to my older relatives for Thanksgiving. Oftentimes older relatives that are not ambulatory are often left alone for the holidays, their children and grandchildren are not close to them or they have other plans with their own families. I make it a point to invite everyone who has nowhere to go to my home. My husband and I provide transportation and goodie bags of leftovers for them to take home. I also make sure that I put together a “family craft” to connect all of the generations. It is a lot of work on my part and I could easily make reservations out and have someone cook for me, but I remember back to when I was growing up, those aunts, uncles, cousins, were always there for me and I want to give back to them. My joy is seeing them engaged at the table and eating their turkey dinner.
    Shams Islam FE&S Alumnus and currently working under the Office of International Affairs. Giving out warm clothes to those in need so they are better prepared for winter.
    Christal Esposito Yale Cancer Center I am hosting two International Yale University graduate students to have Thanksgiving with our family. I have two boys, nine and 11, and I am eager to see the conversations we have this year at the table. 
    Natasha Rivera-LaButhie Pediatrics I put the giving in Thanksgiving by cooking and inviting family over.  During the family time, I have everyone write down one thing they are thankful for and one reason why they love the people in the room.  We read the messages aloud after supper. I also like offering food to the homeless that live in my neighborhood and might not have access to a hot meal on that day. This year, my neighbor’s three-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer so we will be assisting in cooking their Thanksgiving dinner and bringing it over to them so it’s one less thing they have to do. I do not have much as a mom of four, a wife and a single household income, but I am blessed and happy to share my blessings with others. 
    Kelley Brown-Gallant Office of the Secretary and Vice President for Student Life This year I chose for my family and friends to prepare ‘giving bags’ (also know as ‘blessing bags’) for the homeless on street-corners and shelters. We are hosting 20 family and friends at our home and following dinner, when we are all relaxing together, we will assemble several items of need and ‘stuff’ them into gallon size clear zip-lock bags. Each bag will contain warm socks & gloves, tissues, $5 cash and/or a $5 fast-food gift card, individual bags of snacks such as pretzels, granola bars, etc., and also a bite/snack size sweet treat/candy bar, personal hygiene items that include feminine hygiene and new underwear for men and women. Other miscellaneous items too.
    Cindy Medina Yale Department of Psychiatry Usually on the Friday after Thanksgiving, I like to either volunteer or donate toys for Christmas.
    Peter Schrader Geology and Geophysics Every year I participate in an event to collect food donations and raise money for APNH (AIDS Project New Haven).
    Darlene Smith Cowles Foundation  By giving to those less fortunate than us:  a few dollars to a homeless person, a kind word to someone who really needs it, giving food to those less fortunate than us, visiting with friends and neighbors who are unable to go out.