Thanksgiving may be over, but the season of giving is just getting started.
This year, for her 80th birthday, Marcia Brous wanted to celebrate with a party geared toward gratitude and giving.
“How much do I need at my age, when I can continue to give to other people?” said Brous.
At 80 years young, Brous decided to ask not what her birthday could do for her, but what her birthday could do for those in need.
“How about I do 80 for 80 and that way, it can be really, really fun,” said Brous.
So she initially began by inviting 80 family members and friends to come together and prepare meals for people in need, with an organization called Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles. The charity provides meals to about 65 entities in the greater LA area.
“It’s a huge variety of student seniors, unhoused. People are struggling this month. Some of it goes to women’s shelters,” said Mushky Perlstein with Our Big Kitchen LA.
Nearly 100 of Brous’ loved ones turned out for the celebration, many of her family members wearing blue shirts that said “Savta,” or grandmother, in Hebrew. Other attendees were people who had come to love and respect Brous through her years of work in the community.
Marissa Gee, who participated in the celebration, said it was an opportunity, not just to celebrate but to teach her daughters about service to others.
“It’s such a good way for them to understand that not everyone is as lucky and it’s a good thing to be willing to help,” said Gee.
After 80 years of experience, that’s the wisdom Brous wants to share with her guests.
“I’m hoping that people can acknowledge another person and be able to always know that we can help,” said Brous.
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