Thanksgiving is a holiday many Coloradans cherish for a variety of reasons. Whether you look forward to spending quality time with your family, cheering on your favorite football team, watching the floats on display during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, or enjoying a home-cooked meal, everyone has a reason for celebrating Thanksgiving. This time of year, the Colorado Egg Producers (CEP) Association encourages everyone to take a moment and reflect on the good fortune in their lives. A loving family, great friends, memorable experiences, and, in CEP’s opinion, delicious food, are all reasons to be grateful.

CEP, a membership organization representing seven farms, recognizes that not all members of our Colorado family will have enough to eat during this holiday season. CEP is committed to doing what’s right for the Colorado community, as illustrated by their regular donation of thousands of eggs to food banks throughout the state. Egg farmers throughout Colorado have an unwavering mission to provide high-quality eggs to Coloradans.

“Thanksgiving is the season of giving. As local farmers, we dedicate ourselves to helping those in need, especially our neighbors who don’t know where their next meal will come from,” said Jerry Wilkins, CEP president. “That’s why we’ve donated more than a million eggs to food banks across Colorado every year, with even more donations to come. Eggs are one of the best foods for meals or snacks – they have 13 essential vitamins and nutrients and they keep us full for longer than many other options.”

CEP will provide a special donation of eggs this season so that no one will have to go hungry this Thanksgiving. For every “like” CEP receives on its Facebook page in month of November, Colorado egg farmers will donate one egg to the Food Bank of the Rockies. Here are some ideas for you to help those in need this holiday season, as well:

• Volunteer at a soup kitchen or food pantry. Establishments that accept volunteers include the Denver Rescue Mission, SAME Café, Denver Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen, Native American Nutri Aid, Inc., Metro Food Bank and Helping Hands for the Homeless Food Bank.
• Donate food to local charities and food banks. If you’re strapped for time this holiday season there are still ways to give back. Simply drop off non-perishable items at local food drives, food banks and charities.
• Involve the kids. Volunteering is a great way to teach your children the value of giving back and helping them realize that some people live in circumstances very different from your own. Some places don’t allow children to volunteer so ask in advance if they allow kids to help out.
• Visit people in need. Thanksgiving is a time to spend with close family and friends, yet many will be unable to see their loved ones this year. Make someone’s holiday truly special by stopping by a hospital or nursing home to see if anyone staying there could use some company.

While Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate family coming together to share a wonderful meal, it is also important to remember that not everyone has that opportunity. Take some time during this holiday season to reach out to those less fortunate in Colorado. You will likely improve someone else’s holiday season as you make yours more meaningful.

Find locally produced, fresh, wholesome and safe eggs in the dairy case of your favorite Colorado 
supermarkets. For a list of where to buy Colorado eggs visit coloradoeggproducers.com.
 

You can also like us at facebook.com/coeggproducers and follow us at www.twitter.com/coeggproducers 
for recipes, agriculture news and interesting egg facts.