Good deeds to do this Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving is normally being celebrated with the idea of giving thanks, we can also express this gratitude by helping others.  This Thanksgiving, make the time to make some people happy by doing good deeds to others.  Here are some ideas that can do as you make your Thanksgiving more meaningful.

Volunteer

There are many volunteer activities during this time of the year.  Many organizations conduct food drives and other activities in order to extend the joy of the holidays. You can volunteer as a cook, a server, or just someone who cleans up around the area.  In any way, your presence is already a significant help.  The following are good places to start looking for these opportunities:

1) Your local church, synagogue or community center – many of these places conduct soup kitchens and other food drives to help those who cannot celebrate Thanksgiving lavishly.  This is also a chance for you to get to know your neighbors and to become aware of the conditions in your community.

2) Go to Compassionatekids.com – this website offers information on kid-friendly volunteer activities which your children can also take part of.

3) Go to Dosomething.org – if you’re looking for unique volunteer activities in your local area, this website is a helpful source.

4) Volunteer to organize a food drive in your neighborhood just in case there are no volunteer opportunities in your area.  Contact Foodforothers.org to find out how your group can organize an effective event.  You can also call them at 703-207-9173.

Donate

5) Donate Thanksgiving food – there are many food drives that are being organized during Thanksgiving.  Make sure to donate food such as turkey, chicken, ham, stuffing mix, cake mix, and cranberry sauce, among others.  If you cannot find a local food drive, there is always a nearby shelter and soup kitchen that will appreciate these donations.

6) Participate in a Thanksgiving fundraiser – there are some organizations such as the Salvation Army and other private foundations that hold fundraisers in order to collect a significant amount of funds that will be used for Thanksgiving charity.  Tickets range in price; Salvation Army’s own food feast fundraiser, however, only costs $7 per ticket.

7) Donate remotely – the UN World Food Program-run website Freerice.com allows you to help donate rice by participating in their online vocabulary-building activity for kids.  Have the kids play this game on the website, and every correct answer results to a donation of 10 grains of rice to a third world nation.

Make a Difference

Good deeds at home – you can always start making a difference by doing good deeds at home.  Make sure to help around the house, with the cooking, the cleaning, etc.  Mom will be surely relieved with these extra hands.  You can also ask around the house if there is something that needs to be done.  This is better than sitting around and just eating.

9) Pledge a period of your holiday doing volunteer work – if you really mean to volunteer, go as far as doing some volunteer work after Thanksgiving.  You can pledge a few days of work while the regular volunteers take a break.  Ask a local charity or a helpline if they need extra hands or ears during this long break.

10) Be truly thankful; write notes of thanks – saying “thanks” has merely become an expression; people say it but they don’t really mean it.  If there are some people you really really want to express your appreciation, you can go far by writing notes of gratitude to your family members, friends, colleagues or even neighbors.  You’ll be surprised how such sincere gesture can mean a lot.