Feast On Gratitude
Thanksgiving is the perfect excuse to give thanks and share your gratitude. While you prepare for the family feast, are there ways you can lend a hand or show your appreciation? From small acts of kindness to sponsoring a family in need, there are many ways you can give back to the community this season.
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1. Write Thank You Cards
A little note goes a long way. Writing thank you cards to people is an unexpected surprise and a kind gesture. From the kids' bus driver to your doctor's receptionist, there are people out there that deserve to be thanked. When everything is online these days, a handwritten card means a lot. Although you could send a thank-you text, you'll still be making someone's day.
2. Sponsor A Family For Thanksgiving
If you're used to having a thanksgiving dinner with your family every year you might not think that it's not possible for every family. Many families can't afford a big feast let a alone a whole turkey. If you look up organizations in your area you'll come across ways you can sponsor a family so they can enjoy a thanksgiving dinner too.
3. Promote Local Businesses
Try to buy your thanksgiving fixings and decor from local businesses as much as you can. Your support is a bigger thank you than you know. You can also use social media as a platform to give shout-outs to small businesses in your area. Encourage those around you to support local too!
4. Donate Money To Charity
Find a charity that's close to your heart or one that's local and seasonal. There are often many food drives you could support or charities helping people without homes as the weather gets colder. Funding a good cause is an effortless way to show gratitude and help an organization reach their goals.
5. Visit A Nursing Home
If you have the day off, a couple of hours of your time won't feel like a big deal to you but it could make somebody else's holiday much brighter. Not everyone in a care facility have family members nearby to visit them so this could be your opportunity to cheer a stranger up. Warm-hearted social interactions can have a positive impact on a person that'll last longer than one day. Call up a local nursing home and ask if there's anyone that could use a visitor.
6. Ask Dinner Guests To Bring Items For Charity
Another way to support a charity is to ask your friends and family to bring an item to dinner to donate. Non-perishable items are good for a food bank or sock drives are also common this time of year. Warm clothing donations are especially appreciated in November as the weather turns and more people are in need of winter attire.
7. Join A “Turkey Trot”
"Turkey trots" have risen in popularity over the years and you'll likely find one in your community or nearby. It's a win-win–– you can work off your thanksgiving dinner and support a fundraiser at the same time. Participating in a running fundraiser is a fun way to give back to the community and raise money for a good cause.
8. Serve Dinner At A Shelter
You'll show utmost gratitude if you volunteer your time at a shelter that's serving thanksgiving dinner. These places are run by the most thoughtful, unselfish people that could use any extra hands they can get. Serving those in need up close will strengthen your appreciation for the life you have. Plus–– it feels good making others feel good.
9. Invite A Neighbor To Dinner
If you have any neighbors that live alone or don't have family near by, why don't you invite them to dinner? It would mean the world to them to spend thanksgiving with kind people. Give a lonely neighbor a thanksgiving they'll never forget and show you're truly thankful.
10. Perform Small Acts Of Kindness
Spend a little extra effort this year and perform small acts of kindness. Anything from buying coffee for the patron in line behind you or complimenting strangers is an effortless act that can make someone's day. Who knows, maybe this one day of kind gestures will influence you to continue these acts more regularly.
11. Make & Share Your Turkey Soup
If you're one of those people that thrives off of leftovers, why don't you share the love this year? Leftover turkey soup is not only a great way to use up every scrap and create no waste, it's also a meal that can be easily shared. Continue your thanks beyond thanksgiving day and share your large pot of soup with friends, family, or neighbors.
12. Quality Time With Loved Ones
Simply spending quality time with your family will show you're thankful for them. Take the time you have off and spend it with your kids, spouse, parents, or whoever you love. Play games at home or go on a fun outing together. Whatever you do, just being there with them is all the love they need.
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13. Spread Your Gratitude
Thanksgiving is a time to spread your gratitude. Spread the love by visiting and hugging your friends, listening to someone who needs to vent, or calling in to your neighbors with a small gift. Just saying "thank you" is a way you can spread your gratitude towards loved ones and your community.
14. Leave Notes Or Gifts For Colleagues
During the week leading up to thanksgiving, leave post-it notes that your colleagues to come across. You can leave them kind messages or motivational notes that'll boost their spirits in the office. Go the extra mile and hide surprise gifts for them to say thank you for making your work life better.
15. Bake Pies To Give Away
If you love to bake and you're making pie for your family, why not share the dough? It's pie season and everyone loves a slice a homemade creation. Deliver a pie to someone you want to thank or make a pie for someone older who can't bake anymore.
16. Volunteer
Many towns and cities will have many opportunities to volunteer. From women's shelters to humane societies, you could reach out and volunteer your time. You could give a daily volunteer a break or help out with a thanksgiving fundraiser. There's likely a need for volunteers to collect donations or pick up and drop off items to organizations.
17. Leave A Generous Tip
Not everyone gets time off for Thanksgiving, especially in the hospitality industry. If you're out at an open business during thanksgiving, it would be a kind gesture of gratitude to leave a larger tip than usual. Show you're thankful for them working during a holiday and tip extra to your servers, delivery drivers, and whoever else deserves it.
18. Check In On Friends
Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to check in on friends you haven't spoken to in a while. Especially nowadays when our general method of communication is texting, picking up the phone to have a real conversation could be more impactful than you think. Take this time to reach out to an old buddy who would love to hear from you.
19. Organize Activities For The Kids
Show gratitude towards your children, your friends' kids, and nieces and nephews by organizing festive activities for them. Put the extra effort in to make their long weekend extra special and you too will be rewarded. Happiness is contagious and you can give back to all the youngsters that bring you joy.
20. Clean Up The Neighborhood
Thank your community by cleaning up the neighborhood. You could make it an event and organize a litter pick up group or visit parks and trails and clean them up yourself. You'll benefit from the exercise and the clean streets for everyone to enjoy.
