Like most families, every year my family gathers to celebrate Thanksgiving.We come together around a table, enjoy a great meal, share stories of funny things that happened over the past year, and are thankful for all of the amazing things in our lives. It is a great experience, albeit one that leaves me overstuffed with mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.
The next morning I awake wanting to get outside and hike off all of those Thanksgiving day calories. I always turn to one of our amazing Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks. Putting on my boots and bundling up, I head out to one of 19 parks that are all within a 30 minute drive from my house. Once on the trail, I am surrounded by nature—the few remaining fall leaves clinging to the trees, the cool autumn breeze blowing across my face, and the deer that can be seen observing from a distance.
But the best part of getting out in one of our parks is seeing all of the people that want to share this experience with me. From the trail runner zipping past, to the father teaching his daughter about the different types of trees, to the photographer capturing the glory of one of the creeks meandering through the park, there are so many Ohioans that share the love for the parks that we all have. That's what I am most thankful for, our Metro Parks.
That is why I will be donating on #GivingTuesday to the Friends of Metro Parks. We need these beautiful parks for generations to come and the Friends is the organization working to ensure that becomes a reality. Will you join me in supporting our parks by giving to the Friends today?
A "general donation" helps bring new people into our parks, creates programs for our children, and ensures that these parks are here for the future.
By donating to the "Tad Jeffrey Memorial Fund" you will be helping to create innovative programs and projects across all of our Metro Parks. As a 501c(3) organization, we cannot operate without your help.
If you love our Metro Parks and are as thankful for their existence as I am, please join me in #GivingTuesday.