3 Ways to Give Thanks to Your Community During Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the unique time of the year when we share a bit of ourselves, and abundance, with our community and the people we love. Few holidays make it socially acceptable to eat as much as physically possible, and we often associate major celebrations with taking time off work. However, spending time with people we care about, practicing family traditions, making special recipes and teaching them to our children, as well as opening our homes to those who are less fortunate, can bring an overflow of joy to our lives.

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Of course, one of the first things we think about during Thanksgiving is turkey. Did you know these facts about Turkey Day?

• 40 million whole turkeys are eaten in the U.S. at Thanksgiving
• $96 million is spent on stuffing at Thanksgiving each year
• 80 million pounds of cranberries are purchased at Thanksgiving
  
  

We do want everything to be just right, not only for us but for the people we love.

Although we cherish this time in November for its rich tables and the familiar faces we look forward to encountering - and perhaps even a bit of Black Friday shopping - hopefully, it also brings to mind those who don't have as much.

Many communities offer a variety of opportunities to serve and volunteer. All it takes is for us to get involved and the willingness to be there. Sometimes it helps to take a look around and discover the ways we can give back, rather than focusing on ourselves and our own needs.

Get your family, friends, office staff, church group, or school club together, and see if you all can practice one (or more) of these creative ways to give thanks to your community during Thanksgiving. Ideas for dinner are up to you!

If you are volunteering with a group, one way to make your message stand out and identify your team is by securing comfortable customized t-shirts. A variety of great colors and sizes are available and the shirts can be personalized with a business logo, scripture, or school motto. Whether you need men’s shirts, women’s shirts, youth shirts, or long-sleeved shirts for cooler temperatures, you can secure them at an affordable price and with customization that will make everyone happy.

1. Serve those who are less fortunate:

   It can take on many different forms, including serving meals at a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter; helping a struggling single mom in your community, or inviting a lonely senior citizen to dinner on Thanksgiving. Schools and offices can hold canned food drives and have a healthy competition among classrooms or departments to see who can collect the most items. Whatever it looks like, serving those who don't have as much is a great way to remember our blessings, as well as the everlasting impact of compassion and kindness.

2. Serve those who serve the community:

   Although many will be lucky to take the day off work on Thanksgiving, there are those whose jobs don’t stop because of the holidays. This includes police officers, firefighters, hospitals, and nursing home staff members. Creative ways to serve them may include taking a special dessert and a card to express gratitude, or giving gift cards to local coffee shops so they can take a break, too.
   

3. Share Warmth With Custom Mygs

   Share the warmth with personalized mugs. These can be perfect for sipping a hot beverage on a chilly November day. Consider creating custom mugs that can be given to volunteers or those in need to remind them of your support and care. Mugs can be designed with inspiring messages, the names of your community group, or simply warm wishes for the season. They can be sold to raise funds for a local charity or given as tokens of appreciation to those who tirelessly serve the community all year round.

4. Serve those around the world:

   Serving others in far-off lands doesn’t always mean we have to travel to them. As your guests arrive for Turkey Day festivities, ask each guest to contribute something by way of cash or coins. At the end of the day, put it all together and send it to a charitable organization that serves those in need around the world. Trusted and reputable organizations will take what you give and use it to serve those without access to clean water, education, and fair treatment. 

Thanksgiving ideas for dinner can be found in abundance; it is sometimes more difficult to find ways in which we can serve those who are in need during the holidays. One way to understand needs in your city is by making contact with local churches or service organizations and asking what their needs are, or seeing if they can direct you to the right resource. There are many creative ways to serve, and not one way will fit everyone.

We often hear an emphasis on being grateful around this particular season, and one way to express that gratitude is by giving to those around us, whether we know them or not. However you choose to serve, someone you don't even know is waiting for a helping hand to aid in shifting their reality. It may not take much of your time, but it has the potential to make all the difference for one person and their family.

Whether you collect cans for the local food bank, visit elderly neighbors with a plate of turkey, or send money to relief organizations, you can make a difference on Thanksgiving. This can turn a day often anticipated with overeating to infuse goodness and love into your neighborhood, your community, and the world around you. It's time we put "give" back in Thanksgiving.