THANKSGIVING’S GREAT- IF YOU’RE NOT THE TURKEY!

Holiday thoughts by: Dr. Steven D. Brook, D.P.M.

As the holiday season approaches, with both Summer and Fall in the rearview mirror,
my thoughts gravitate towards transitioning our patients from sandals to boots and
warm socks. I reflect on the year that is about to pass, I am very thankful for having the
strength to succeed in the face of adversity (3 surgeries) and all of the wonderful
memories I shared with my patients and my staff. I am grateful to be able to share the
holiday season with family and friends. But I am most grateful that I’m not the
Thanksgiving turkey.

I am neither a Vegetarian nor a Vegan. Despite being an animal lover and advocate I
confess that I have decades of wonderful memories that happened at my Thanksgiving
table. I can still smell my grandmother’s turkey dinner in my memory. Lots of great
stories and laughter happened at those dinners. As an adult, I can still see my kids
looking in wonder at the spread my wife Debbie and I prepared from “soup to nuts” as
they say. In the middle of all of this was the turkey- symbol of the Pilgrims and our
giving thanks for the bounty we were about to enjoy.

One Thanksgiving my family and I were guests at an all vegetarian Thanksgiving. I can
still see my son’s puzzled expression as vegetable after vegetable was loaded onto the
table. It was then that my son, with lips quivering, turned to me and asked, “Dad-
WHERE’S THE TURKEY?”

We have all made sacrifices in our lives- for a family member, friend or “for the greater
good”. It is with this altruistic thought that I now salute the turkey who every year gives
his/her all so we can rejoice and celebrate this wonderful holiday. Mr. Turkey- thanks
from me for taking one “for the team” and thanks for all the past Thanksgiving
memories and the ones yet to come.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY “SHOES FOR THE HOMELESS” DRIVE

For the Third consecutive year, the doctors and staff at Country Foot Care will be holding A “SHOES FOR THE HOMELESS” drive in all of our offices.  Country Foot Care will once again be asking their patients and neighboring businesses to bring “gently” worn shoes to any of our offices during normal business hours between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.  Last year, over 1,200 pairs of shoes were collected and donated to local homeless shelters and churches to distribute to those in need in our communities.  We gratefully acknowledge the Chambers of Commerce of Mineola, Williston Park and Patchogue for their help disseminating our drive to their membership. A special “thanks” also goes out to DJO Global for donating 300 pair of diabetic shoes last year.

The footwear Shoes for the Homeless collects is never sold, but stays in the local community to protect the feet of our neighbors for whom walking is usually their only available means of transportation.

Do you have any extra shoes crowding your closet floor or tucked away in bags or boxes? Perhaps they are gently worn, or were never quite the right style or color, or never felt as comfortable as you would like. You may have shoes you never could bear to discard from a loved one who passed away, or shoes your children have outgrown that seemed too nice to trash.

As is so often the case, your rejects may be treasures to someone else, particularly if that someone else is homeless. Think how wonderful you and your family will feel to provide someone in great need with something you will barely miss. Thousands of children and adults, living closer to you than you probably are aware, are wearing ill-fitting, outgrown shoes, or worn-out footwear. Instead of leaving them to suffer exposure to the elements and to a variety of podiatric ailments, you can help them to feel a little more protected, a little more valued, and perhaps even a little more stylish!

For your convenience, any shoes you have available to donate can be dropped off at any one of our three Country Foot Care locations: Mineola at 155 Mineola Boulevard, Williston Park at 479 Willis Avenue, or Patchogue at 655-23 Montauk Highway E. Patchogue.

For more information click here: Country Foot Care