Thanksgiving is a time when many of us gather with family and friends to enjoy a bountiful feast and reflect on the blessings in our lives. However, Thanksgiving can be much more than that. It presents an opportunity to practice an attitude of thankfulness by giving back and serving others.
As Thanksgiving approaches it can be easy to get wrapped up in your own celebration and forget about others. In particular, forget about those who are struggling with financially and personally. That is why Thanksgiving provides a great opportunity for you to go out of your way to think of others and help.
Here are some impactful ways you and your family can make this Thanksgiving one of generosity and service for others in need:
Volunteer
Contact local organizations in your community to see if they need extra hands in the days leading up to and on Thanksgiving to help prepare and serve meals for the homeless and those in need. Passion 4 Community has various opportunities. Even a couple hours of your time can make a meaningful difference, and this is a great way to get kids involved in serving others as well.
Prepare and Deliver Thanksgiving Meals
In your community there are people who cannot have a Thanksgiving celebration for various reasons. Offer to bring a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal to a few of these individuals so they don’t miss out on the food and company on this special day. Every year, New Life works within different communities and with Passion for Community to provide meals for hundreds in our surrounding communities. Each family will receive a complete Thanksgiving meal. It is easy to be a part of bringing a little joy to these families this holiday season. Learn more about it here and help out today!
Donate Thanksgiving food to a Food Pantry
If you are not able to serve somewhere or help package and deliver food, you can still help. Clean out your pantry of any non-perishable items you won’t use for Thanksgiving this year. Foods such as canned vegetables, boxed stuffing, crackers, broth, etc. Local food pantries often see a drop in donations around the holidays, so this is the perfect time to share your extras.
Write Thank You Notes to Service Members
While many people enjoy being home and with family or friends for the holidays, some people are unable to. Military service members are some of those people. This Thanksgiving time, take time to write notes of appreciation to veterans, deployed troops, or wounded warriors. These can be simple messages to let them know their service is valued, but can make a world of difference. You can mail these letters or care packages out any time around the Thanksgiving holiday.
Conclusion
The possibilities for serving others around Thanksgiving are endless. Even small acts of generosity can have an enormous impact. As we gather this year to enjoy God’s blessings in our own lives, let’s not forget those who are struggling and find ways to help them experience the love and hope of God this year.
If you would like to receive daily texts through Thanksgiving with a Bible verse and something to be thankful for, text “Thanks” to 703-454-5990.