Giving During Thanksgiving

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Giving During Thanksgiving

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Many of us will come together to be thankful and celebrate the blessings in our lives. But during this time of year, there are also people and families that are in need.

We all get busy during this time, so it can become easy to forget about helping others. Crosswalk.com has a few ways to help you show God’s love and blessings to others this Thanksgiving.

Getting Started

Help A Friend With Make-Ahead Food Preparations - Get together with a good friend and do some make-ahead food prep. Roast and bone both your turkeys or make your pies together. Not only will this cut down on stress on the holiday, but you can also spend some quality time together.
Invite Someone With No Family To Dinner - If you know someone who has no family or has a family that is far away and isn’t able to make it home, invite them to dinner. If you have a friend who is going through a hard time such as a divorce or financial difficulties, invite them too.
Buy Your Pet Some Special Food - Show your pet that you are thankful for them by getting a can of special food or some treats that they are not used to getting. Animals are our faithful companions, protectors, and lap warmers. They deserve a special dinner too.
Buy Someone’s Thanksgiving Dinner - If you are in a financial position to do so, buy the fixings for Thanksgiving dinner for a low-income family that you know or a single Mom. If you go out for dinner on Thanksgiving, consider paying for someone else’s dinner like an elderly couple or a veteran and their family.
Blessing Bag - Take a gallon size zip lock bag and put things in it like a toothbrush, travel size toothpaste and Antiperspirant, feminine hygiene products, bar soap, hair shampoo/conditioner and food coupons (like dollar coupons from fast food restaurants). Take them down to the poor section of your town the week before Thanksgiving and give them out to the homeless.

Other Ways to Help Big

Giving back, whether big or small can make a huge difference in the person or family you are helping. While CrossWalk has great ideas, there are a few other ways to help big. These ideas are great to do as a family or to do together with your work buddies before heading home for turkey.

Turkey Trots - There are several cities in Texas that host fun runs around Thanksgiving time. Typically referred to as a “Turkey Trot,” people gather to run a 5k, but can be different distances. Typically, all flat fees to enter the run go to charities or non-profits and donations are accepted but not required! Find out where the closest turkey trot is to your office, and get the team to sign up!
Support the Troops - Don’t let the troops have Thanksgiving without smiles. Get together and give back to our veterans and current servicemen and women. You can keep it simple with low-cost, hand-made holiday cards thanking our troops for their services. Check out Operation Gratitude— a well-known program designed to help troops who are currently serving. You can also visit Soldiers Angels if you are interested in giving back to disabled or injured veterans.
Visit Your Local Senior Center - The holidays can be an especially emotional time for people who have lost family members or close friends in their life. You can give back to the elderly in person at your local senior home. Consider visiting a senior center and help put together a potluck, give them cards of thanks, and most importantly, spend a bit of time with someone who may need it more than you know.

There’s No Better Time to Help

Thanksgiving is a yearly reminder for us to reach out to those in need. Make a pledge to serve those who are less fortunate this season. Whether it's giving them a meal or making a craft, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to give back.

At The Open Door, we understand the meaning of giving and expressing thanks to God. We also are proud to offer the communities of Eastland county with many free services. Our team is ready to assist you with free classes, pregnancy resources, and referrals. Contact us by calling 254-442-3000 or visit us at www.supportopendoor.org to learn more about us.

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