This year, when you’re at Thanksgiving dinner surrounded by mountains and mountains of food, you should take a moment and realize how lucky you are to be surrounded by loved ones and to have so many special privileges and opportunities in your life. However, sometimes it may not always feel like enough to simply “be thankful” on Thanksgiving. So, here are some of my favorite ways to give back around Turkey day!
1. Soup Kitchens
Since this is such a big time of year for food and warmth, nothing feels better than being able to help someone else be just as lucky. In Boston, we have wonderful opportunities, such as The Haley House, located at 23 Dartmouth St. It’s a really friendly and comfortable environment to be able to help people out!
2. Food Banks
Food banks work a little differently from soup kitchens in the sense that your volunteer efforts focus more on helping to organize and sort different donated foods that will go to people in need. I have volunteered at the Greater Boston Food Bank, which is located at 70 S Bay Ave, and it was an extremely fun and rewarding opportunity.
3. Toy Drives
Because Toys for Tots is pretty much the cutest thing in the world and what’s better than putting a smile on a little kid’s face?!
4. Assorted Boston Events
I volunteered at an event called Christmas in the City a couple years ago and it was so rewarding! It was just an entire day of different events to give toys and entertainment to less fortunate families in the Boston area.
5. Spread Some Spirit!
Sometimes, all it takes is a good smile or a friendly hug to turn someone’s holiday season around. It’s a great way to give back simply if you can’t afford to do anything grand.