Thanksgiving is a time for food, family and friends. But, most importantly, it’s a time to give back. Not all families can afford to have a Thanksgiving meal and not all people have a family to spend Thanksgiving with.
Helping out the less fortunate can bring some joy and comfort into their lives during the holiday season. There are countless ways to give back and many come at little to no cost.
Turkey Trot
Participating in a Turkey Trot is a simple way to raise money to help those in need by running a marathon for local charities and organizations. On November 22, the Baptist Health Turkey Trot run will take place. The proceeding from the race will be donated to Camillus House, a non-profit that services poor and homeless people in Miami-Dade. To run in the 5K or 10K races the prices are: $22 for students 18 and under, $40 for the 5K, $45 for the 10K, and $15 for kids 2-9. If you cannot afford to run, there is a cost-free volunteer option, where you sign up to help register people and keep things organized on the day of the trot. To find more information, visit turkeytrotmiami.com.
Donate Canned Goods
An easy way to give back is by donating canned goods to a local food bank. In Miami there is the Food For Life Network Food Bank and in Pembroke Park there is Feeding South Florida. The contents of the cans can vary from corn to mashed potatoes, yams to pie crust, peas to stuffing mix. An alternative to donating the canned goods would be to donate the money directly to the organization. The organizations have a better idea of what food they need and often times they get a greater discount when they buy the food in bulk. Either option is a great way to ensure that everyone will go to sleep with a full belly on Thanksgiving.
Visit Local Hospitals
Many people are stuck in hospitals during Thanksgiving with no family. Visit a local hospital and give the patients someone to spend the holiday with. Having a visitor can lift their spirits. You can do things like play music or just sit and talk. If there is not enough time for a lengthy visit, a Thanksgiving basket is another option. Fill it with Thanksgiving-themed presents like turkey socks, or pumpkin scented soap, and then drop off the basket to one of the patients.
Make this Thanksgiving special for someone else. After giving back, you may even become more thankful for all the good things in your life.
