Recent tragedies that have plagued Colorado give everyone a reason to celebrate Thanksgiving. In the past two years, Colorado has taken hit after hit from natural disasters. The Waldo Canyon Fire, in the summer of 2012, destroyed 346 homes in Mountain Shadows, and unfortunately, two people lost their lives. This past summer, the Black Forest Fire also claimed two lives and destroyed 511 homes. Ironically, after two summers of devastating fire, Colorado took its turn getting pounded with rain for five days. The floods across the Front Range killed eight people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes. Many businesses were also closed during the floods and many roads washed away as a result. The entire town of Lyons, Colorado, was evacuated as roads flooded with water. But now, Colorado is back on its feet, showing the rest of the country for the third time in two years that we are standing strong.

Many residents in Mountain Shadows and in the Black Forest area are getting ready to fill their stomachs with turkey this Thanksgiving, some in their newly constructed homes. Efforts to rebuild are making impressive progress in both areas of Colorado Springs; most of the families in Mountain Shadows have moved back in. Sadly, the community of Lyons will not have fully recovered in time for Thanksgiving and some families will not be celebrating the holiday in their own home this year.

The disasters have had effects on the community as well. Multiple disaster relief agencies have appeared in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs Together and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have aided residents in the affected community. Other smaller organizations, non-profits, and the whole community have also assisted in clean-ups and flood mitigation. The goal of these groups is to provide help to the affected families. This may mean counseling or guidance on what to do next. Some schools in the Lyons area are starting food drives for the local families.

Food drives this holiday season have begun, collecting donations for families in need. Charities like Care and Share have been providing food for the homeless and people in need. You can donate money or food to Care and Share anytime you want. Colorado needs everyone’s help to get past what we’ve suffered in the past two years. A small donation could make a victim’s Thanksgiving possible.

Everyone in the state has been affected by these disasters, whether it be directly by the fires and floods, or knowing someone who was. So this Thanksgiving, keep those people in mind and be thankful for all you have.