When one couple had to cancel their wedding because of the coronavirus pandemic, they didn’t want it to ruin everything. So they found a way to make the best of it: donate the food so those hungry could have a great Thanksgiving 2020!
Another Cancelled Ceremony
Emily Bugg and Billy Lewis felt very excited to marry this year when they began planning their big ceremony back in 2019. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Like so many other weddings around the globe, it was first postponed for a few weeks, then months, and finally, a whole year. Don’t worry, the couple still married – but by themselves at City Hall.
But what about all the money they had already spent on the wedding? Well, for the food, Bugg and Lewis took their $5,000 worth of reception dinners and gave it away to people in need for Thanksgiving! A non-profit dedicated to helping feed those unfit to feed themselves, Thresholds, helped the couple distribute the meals. In total, 200 meals were sent out to those with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders in Illinois. Bugg had been working with the non-profit for some time now.
And the help could not have come at a better time! The coronavirus also canceled a communal Thanksgiving dinner for Threshold clients. Now, they had dinners that included turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, and other Thanksgiving staples. The meals became a great way to ensure the people the organization helped did not go hungry on holiday!
Warmth And Care
This incredible story does not end there! When the couple’s wedding venue, Salvage One, an antique store and killer venue, heard of Bugg and Lewis’ Thanksgiving plans, they let them repurpose their deposit for a future event for the Epilepsy Foundation. “In the grand scheme of things, canceling a big wedding isn’t the worst thing that could happen,” Bugg stated. “We’re happy to be married, and we’re so happy that we could help Thresholds’ clients feel the connection of a Thanksgiving meal as a result of the wedding cancellation.”
Of course, Thresholds is incredibly thankful for the fantastic act. “I was so moved because it was so beautiful. I know that Emily’s act of kindness will inspire others to do the same and build love and connection in a difficult time, in any way we can. Thresholds is so grateful for our staff, like Emily, who are so dedicated to their work serving those with mental illnesses,” Mark Ishaug, the CEO of Thresholds, said. “We hope they can still feel the warmth of knowing that we care about them. These small moments of connection are what’s keeping us going during these difficult months.”
While Bugg and Lewis might have needed to postpone their big wedding until next year, they are incredibly happy that they still managed to spread holiday cheer, especially in 2020. It is certainly the kind of good news we need during these stressful times!
Sources: MSN, People Magazine