For many of us, Thanksgiving marks the official start to the holiday season. All this week, as people finalized their Thanksgiving Day menus and made plans to catch up with family and friends, we visited them throughout our community to find out what they are most thankful for this year.
WFPL’s Roxanne Scott posed the question to some Louisville residents at 18th and Broadway. Among them was Bobby Hocker (pictured above).
"I'm thankful the Lord bless us for every day that we wake up, let us breathe," said Hocker.
Health reporter Lisa Gillespie went to the sidewalks outside the Norton and University of Louisville hospitals downtown to find out what patients and their families are thankful for this holiday season. She ran into Charles, who only wanted to use his first name. Charles was at the hospital to visit his son, who had been in a bad car accident.
"I'm thankful that God woke me up this morning," Charles said. "I’m 70 years old and a lot of people said I wouldn’t make it. If I go back to my past, I wouldn’t have made it. He’s blessed me. I used to be a heroin addict, I’ve been to penitentiary. I made a commitment; I asked him, 'If you let me out of this, you don’t got to worry about me anymore.'"
Harbor House of Louisville provides care and employment to adults with developmental and physical disabilities. WFPL producer Laura Ellis stopped by their Thanksgiving luncheon on Wednesday to ask some of the attendees what they're thankful for.
Metro Affairs reporter Jake Ryan stopped by the Neighborhood House in Louisville’s Portland neighborhood to talk with a group of children about what they’re thankful for this season.
Arts and Culture reporter Ashlie Stevens went to Lexington’s Triangle Park, which is located right in the middle of downtown. The weather was unseasonably warm, so there were groups of teenagers skateboarding -- using the benches and steps as makeshift ramps -- and a pair of young girls skating on the temporary ice rink. Off to the side, a pair of men dressed in black leather were taking a smoke break.
“I’m personally thankful for Home-Tron and the Lexington punk scene," said Mike Miller.
We also spoke to staff at Neighborhood House about what they're most thankful for this year. One common theme stood out: