Dr. Kelley and his wife, Alison, envisioned an outreach in which the smiles of Fort Worth would reach deep into the hearts of the city.
What started with 60 Thanksgiving meals has grown into a movement across the state. Since he began practicing orthodontics in 1999, Dr. Kelley traditionally gave turkeys to his referring dentists during the holidays. In 2012, with the support of his dental colleagues, John and Alison decided to redirect their efforts and reached out to neighboring schools and to families who were struggling to put a Thanksgiving meal on the table… And Live Thankfully was born!
Over a decade later, Live Thankfully is giving well over 2000 meals and groceries away to families in need across Texas. Live Thankfully now takes place in numerous satellite cities including Lubbock, Decatur, Granbury, Cleburne, and Paris, Texas.
Live Thankfully is not another “turkey handout” or “canned food drive”. We are about empowering the next generation to be lifelong givers of their communities. We aren’t just serving meals; we are preparing young hearts for service. Live Thankfully is a lifestyle, it is a way of living that brings dignity and pride to families in need and establishes a lifestyle of service in our future leaders.
