A Pasco County family was homeless this time last year, but thanks to the help they got on Thanksgiving, they began to reshape their lives.
Now this year, Nathan Henley said he wants to pay that goodwill forward.
Henley gathered with the members of the Community Congregational Church Thursday as they gave thanks. Henley said he has a lot to be thankful for.
"Life is actually good," he said.
But life wasn't always good to him. Last year, he and his wife and their two children were living in a van in a Walmart parking lot after losing his job and their home. On Thanksgiving eve, he was invited by members of the church to stay there for shelter.
Through some help from church members, he was able to get a job, move into a home and even become the church's outreach committee chairman.
And now a year later, Henley is on the other side of the table. This Thanksgiving, he helped buy 10 plates for whoever comes through the doors of the church.
“Four of those 10 plates were us last year, so it’s a small token,” he said.
He also hopes those plates help do for someone what they did for him and his family.
“Last year we had such weight on at this time, and for that one day to just let it go and let the kids go running around, it rekindles you a bit,” he said.
He said the helping hand gave hime guidance and a sense of direction that helped reshape his life.
“What a difference a year makes!" he said. "So I just want to wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving meal."