I still remember the toast I gave at my father’s 60th Birthday. In the toast I noted my father instilled two things in me: (1) being a Mets fan; and (2) helping those less fortunate than you. With respect to the latter, he was always more cognizant of that around the holidays. 

Each Thanksgiving, he would “adopt a family” which meant he would buy a meal for a family in need. He always took my brother and I with him when he did the grocery shopping. He would have us help him pack the boxes and bring it to the charity.  When my brother and I got older and had jobs out if school, we adopted families of our own. 

When my son is old enough, I will continue the tradition with him. In many ways, this could be my father’s greatest legacy, and that’s saying something. 

With that in mind, I hope everyone does something. It doesn’t have to be adopting a family or going to a soup kitchen.  It could be something like donating canned goods. It could be donating your time somewhere. There is nothing too small or inconsequential. 

Like my father has done with me, I hope this post has left an impression.