A Season of Gratitude: Serving Illinois Communities Together
As Thanksgiving approaches, the Illinois Life and Health Insurance Council is reflecting on what this season truly represents: gratitude, community, and the responsibility we share to lift up our neighbors. This year, our team and member companies were honored to support families across Illinois through two turkey donation events in Bloomington and Springfield, each rooted in partnership, compassion, and a commitment to ensuring every family can gather around a warm meal.
In Bloomington, ILHIC partnered with State Representative Sharon Chung, Turasky Meats, Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, and Home Sweet Home Ministries to donate fifty turkeys to senior citizens and families in need. The distribution created an opportunity for dignity and connection at a time of year when togetherness matters most. As ILHIC President Laura Minzer shared, providing a Thanksgiving turkey “goes far beyond offering a meal; it is about creating a dignified space for togetherness and honoring the spirit of the holiday.”
In Springfield, ILHIC again partnered with Turasky Meats along with Senator Doris Turner and St. John’s Breadline to donate an additional fifty smoked turkeys. This effort, now in its second year, helped ensure that families who rely on the Breadline’s daily meals could celebrate Thanksgiving with warmth, fellowship, and a true sense of belonging. Senator Turner spoke to the heart of this mission, noting that providing families the opportunity to sit down and share a holiday meal offers more than food. It offers community.
These moments serve as powerful reminders of why we do this work. At its core, the life and health insurance industry exists to provide security, stability, and support. Our advocacy may focus on policy, regulation, and the systems that shape care, but our purpose is rooted in people. When we come together with local partners to meet immediate needs, we see firsthand the impact of compassion in action.
We are grateful for our member companies whose generosity makes efforts like these possible. We are grateful for community organizations, churches, ministries, food programs, and volunteers who serve tirelessly all year long. And we are grateful for the people of Illinois, whose resilience and hope inspire us to continue strengthening the communities we call home.
This Thanksgiving, may we all be reminded that the simple act of sharing a meal can create comfort, connection, and dignity. And may we carry this spirit of gratitude into the seasons ahead, continuing to serve and support one another.
From all of us at the Illinois Life and Health Insurance Council, we wish you a warm and meaningful Thanksgiving.