December 15, 2025
What is it about sharing food and fellowship that feels so transformative—that offers so much connection?
Every Thanksgiving, around three-fourths of the United States has dinner with someone else, and that’s something to celebrate! However…that doesn’t account for everyone. Nearly 15% of households suffer from food insecurity, and the average American leads an increasingly lonely life, which means there’s always someone out there who could use another invitation to Thanksgiving dinner.
HHS was proud to be a part of that effort when we co-hosted our annual community meal for the workers at Paris Regional Health (PRH) this past Tuesday, November 25th. There was turkey. There was dressing. There was pie. And it was all the product of some serious cooperation.
A Circle of Community Support
This isn’t a meal made by one person—or even one group. Thanksgiving at PRH is the product of interconnected community support.
- Who makes the dinner? A combination of HHS and PRH employees—some waking up as early 3:00am to get the job done!
- Where does the dinner take place? The local farmers’ market, generating an even greater sense of community and shining a community spotlight on something special.
- How do all the dinners get delivered to the farmers’ market? The Salvation Army, which in turn receives the bulk of our food surplus throughout the year.
Jeffrey Rosier, the HHS Regional Executive Chef for the South, describes the dinner as a truly collective effort: “It takes a lot to make this happen, and we honestly wouldn’t be able to do it all without every bit of support we get.” Of course, that’s fitting, given the meal’s entire mission is to bring people together through food.
It accomplishes that mission, and it does so with even more help from the families involved.
A Family Effort
Chef Jeff brings his family along for the experience: “As a father, it’s about giving my kids an upbringing that inspires some humility. As a chef, it’s about feeding people when it matters the most.”
Jeff’s group is just one of the families that make this meal possible. There’s the HHS and PRH family, which is the reason for all of this in the first place. There are families in need who help give this community dinner real meaning. Also, there are the families of those waking up at the wee hours of the morning to start roasting turkeys and baking pies.
Why It Matters to HHS
Hospitality, or “the act of being friendly and welcoming,” is at the heart of everything we do. Needless to say, that means Thanksgiving is our time to practice what we preach—to show up and make people feel welcome.
Because the goal of any Thanksgiving dinner is some measure of fellowship. Aside from watching sports, what’s the most likely activity for every American once the meal is over? Talking. Simply talking to who’s sitting next to them. That sort of communication can be powerful, and HHS is privileged to be a part of making it possible—even if for only one day.
How’s Your Community?
It’s the holidays. It’s time to share meals, but it’s also time to share love, gratitude, and genuine concern. Have you reached out to those closest to you lately? Do they know you’re thinking of them this holiday season?
Share a meal. Share the love.