Happy Thanksgiving! And thanks for giving happiness..

I came across this cool old school Chicago story from the Chicago History Journal story that I wanted to share. A man named Issac Woolf, the president of Woolf’s Clothing House, which was across the Palmer House chicago, used to host a Thanksgiving Dinner every year, for 25 years, to feed Chicago’s hungry called the “newsboys’ dinner” (see pic above for an ad he put in the tribune).  It started off in 1882 with 100 people and got up to over 10,000 people by the last years!  It cost him about $5000 per year (which was a fortune back then!) & it was a feast of turkey and all the trimmings.  He made this contribution til the day he died, and therefore was no doubt a philanthropic icon for his time, which is why I wanted to give him a shoutout today.  For the full article, click here.

Issac’s story got me thinking that we could all learn a bit from him & while giving thanks for our own blessings this season, perhaps we can take a moment to help the less fortunate, who may not have food, warm clothes, shelter,.. and have little to be thankful for? I usually make an effort to help through the “Chicago Food Depository,” but I’m sure you can just google an organization in your own neighborhood organizing kindness if that’s easier or more helpful or fulfilling.. Every lil bit helps.. Thanks for giving happiness!