In a world where community often feels fractured, Friendsgiving is a reminder that gratitude thrives both at the family table and among the families we build.
This year, I invite you to add joy and meaning to your holiday and someone else’s by observing Friendsgiving with someone living with dementia.
One of the hardest things about living with dementia or caring for someone who does is the isolation. Old friends and even family members may not know how to connect anymore. Caregivers can’t find the time or energy to socialize. People living with dementia can feel lonely and invisible. That stress only gets worse around holidays.
Some ways you can participate in a “Dementia Friendsgiving” are by:
- Hosting at home for close family and friends. Modify your usual gathering, so someone in your life who is living with dementia can participate in a meaningful way. Adjust the timing, plan simple activities everyone can enjoy and consider a smaller guest list.
- Celebrating in your community. Participate in a local “Dementia Friendsgiving” event — or initiate one. Good venues include community centers, libraries, houses of worship or a local Memory Cafe.
Illinois is a national leader in the dementia-friendly movement and joined Dementia Friendly America in 2017. Since then, more than 10,000 people across the state have become Dementia Friends. Illinois also has more Dementia friendly communities than any other state — 48, including 43 Chicago neighborhoods — participating in Dementia Friendly Illinois.
Dementia Friendly America, powered by USAging, is at the center of a movement to increase dementia awareness, reduce stigma and provide quality dementia-friendly resources, education and support.
I recommend learning to recognize the signs of dementia, as well as positive and effective ways to respond. Don’t let fear or uncertainty stop you. You may not follow every guideline to the letter, but if you revert to being a friend and act out of kindness, you will not go wrong.
Mary Ek , director, Dementia Friendly America, Washington D.C.
Cutting food assistance has rippling effect
As the senior executive of Living Fresh Market in Forest Park, I witness the profound connection between food, dignity and community every day. Our Black-owned store is more than a business — it’s a lifeline for families, seniors and workers who rely on us for fresh, affordable food. When Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits are delayed, the impact is not just immediate, but urgent and devastating.
Across Illinois and the nation, nearly 2 million people have faced uncertainty as SNAP payments stalled. For independent grocers like ours, these benefits represent a third of our revenue and in some neighborhoods, up to 60%. When SNAP is disrupted, families lose access to healthy food and local stores struggle to survive. The ripple effect touches every corner of our community — from jobs and scholarships to the simple act of sharing a meal. The impact on local economies is not just significant but urgent.
For some, it means choosing between paying the heating bill and buying groceries. For others, it means skipping meals to ensure their children have enough to eat. These are not choices anyone should have to make.
Recently, SNAP distributions were restored in a handful of states, including, Hawaii, Oregon, Wisconsin, California, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington. Illinoisans who use the food assistance program were scheduled to start receiving the full benefits last week. While this is a step forward, millions remain in limbo, and the partial restoration leaves families making impossible choices as the holidays approach.
At Living Fresh Market, we have responded not with resignation but with resolve. We’ve hosted food giveaways, partnered with local leaders and created moments of joy for our customers, because we believe no one should go hungry. These efforts, along with our community’s support, are significant.
But charity alone cannot fill the gap left by policy failures. Food banks are stretched thin, and grocers are forced to absorb rising costs from inflation and tariffs, all while trying to keep shelves stocked and doors open.
I have seen firsthand the resilience of our community. Customers have shown up not only to shop but to advocate for their neighbors. Their voices have power, and their actions can make a difference. Local officials have joined us in calling for urgent federal action. These partnerships matter, but they cannot replace a functioning safety net. Congress’s partial restoration of SNAP is not enough.
We call on policymakers, philanthropists and fellow retailers to demand full, immediate action. The survival of community stores like ours depends on it and so does the well-being of the families we serve.
Food security is a fundamental right. Let’s work together to ensure no one in our community is left behind.
Melody Winston, senior executive, Living Fresh Market
Pass the baton, Pappas
Maria Pappas wants to run for mayor of Chicago, but she also wants to get reelected to her current job as Cook County treasurer. I think she needs to decide which job she wants, and I really think the 76-year-old needs to let the younger Democrats step up.
There really should be term limits for any political position. Pappas has already had seven terms and now going for her eighth. Let someone else have an opportunity.
Gerald Bernson, Tinley Park
Trump’s threats
Why hasn’t President Donald Trump been arrested yet? He threatened elected officials with death for telling military members they do not have to carry out “illegal orders.” He has since tried to take it back. But such threats are a federal crime.
Lauretta Hart, West Ridge
In a word
Let’s try out a word I just made up: Sociopatharchy
It means government by sociopaths. Accent on the fourth syllable. Say it as many times as it takes to be comfortable. Then use when appropriate.
C.R. Green, Uptown