19 Ways to Serve Others as a Family This Thanksgiving

You never know what’s going on with people, and your invitation may mean the world to them because they have nowhere to go.

Thanksgiving is a day spent with friends and family eating delicious food, watching a football game or two, and starting your Christmas shopping online. This year, why not start a new tradition and spend the day serving others? Here are some ideas to think about:

1. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen

Spend Thanksgiving day at your local soup kitchen or food pantry. Serving others will humble your heart and teach your kids about being selfless and compassionate.

2. Invite a Neighbor to Dinner

Invite one of your neighbors to Thanksgiving dinner. This could be someone you are friends with or maybe even someone you say hello to in the hall. You never know what’s going on with people, and your invitation may mean the world to them because they have nowhere to go. We are planning on asking one of our neighbors to our table this year.

3. Make Thanksgiving Care Packages

If you have friends or neighbors who are alone, plan on making a Thanksgiving care package for them by dropping off dinner. Plan on buying a little extra food, package meals in bags, and deliver them to your neighbors with a note from you.

4. Take a Neighbor or Coworker to Dinner

Instead of going through all the meal prep, take a neighbor or coworker out to dinner instead. Let someone else do the cooking while you spend some quality time together.

5. Help Your Neighbors with Yard Work

As a family, help your neighbors do some yard work. This could be anything from raking and bagging leaves to cleaning out gutters or even doing some small repairs or touch-ups.

6. Write Cards and Letters of Gratitude

Sure we can write letters to our friends and family, but what about the other people in our lives who are amazing? Think postal workers, hair stylists, veterinarians, teachers, daycare staff, our favorite barista, our pastor, etc. These people don’t get nearly enough gratitude for the impact they have on our lives. Have each family member write a card or letter to someone they appreciate.

7. Adopt a Family in Need

If you can afford it, adopt a family this Thanksgiving. Check with your local churches or community centers to find out about different programs where you can sponsor a family.

8. Help Your Neighbors Decorate

Have some fun and help your neighbors decorate both the inside and outside of their homes for Christmas. This is a great way to spend time together and get to know each other. While the adults are decorating with traditional decor, the kids could make some craft decor to add to the mix.

9. Volunteer at a Pet Shelter After Dinner

Zonking out in front of a football game may be a Thanksgiving tradition, but why not volunteer your time at the animal shelter? The whole family can share their time and love with homeless pets that need some extra attention. Call your local animal shelter and set up a time to volunteer for a few hours. Who knows, you may wind up bringing home your new best friend. And they will be eternally thankful.

10. Volunteer to Deliver Meals with Meals on Wheels

Spend a few hours making a senior's day by delivering food with Meals on Wheels. You will be a bright light bringing a hot meal to someone who may not get out and get food.

11. Have Everyone Post What They Are Thankful For

Spend a few minutes and have everyone in your family post on social media what they are thankful for. Tag friends or family, so they see it as well.

12. Buy Someone a Turkey

Turkey is not only the best part of the Thanksgiving meal, but it is also the most expensive part. If you know someone who is struggling and can't afford it, buy them a turkey. Another option is to donate a turkey through Family to Family, an organization that helps families in need. A $35.00 donation will cover 1 turkey and a side for one family.

13. Visit a Nursing Home

Some people in nursing homes don’t have family who live nearby, so a visit on Thanksgiving can really brighten their day. Call your local nursing home and ask if anyone would like some company.

14. Teach a Friend or Neighbor How to Cook Thanksgiving Dinner

Cooking can intimidate some people. Especially when preparing a large holiday dinner for several people. They assume it has to be perfect and look like something out of a Martha Stewart or Taste of Home magazine. This couldn’t be further from the truth. If you know this is someone’s first year to cook Thanksgiving dinner or that cooking is not their thing, go over and teach them how to cook a holiday dinner. You will have fun spending time together and teaching them your own tips and tricks. They will be immensely grateful for your help.

15. Buy Extra Ingredients and Donate Them to a Food Bank

While shopping for your own meal, pick up some extra things like boxes of stuffing, canned vegetables with pop tops, already-baked dinner rolls, and shelf-stable pumpkin pie from the bakery. Then gather your family and donate the items to your local food bank. Keep in mind that they can’t accept perishable items because of storage limitations and liabilities.

16. Invite Your Dinner Guests to Give Back

Ask your guests to donate to a coat drive or other charity, volunteer their time after dinner, or make a special donation to their favorite charity in a loved one's name.

17. Take Part in a Turkey Trot

A few weeks before Thanksgiving, sign up to take part in a Turkey Trot or Hunger Walk. This is when you ask people you know to sponsor you and donate for every mile you walk. Look around your area to find organizations that put these walks together. If marathons aren't your thing, you can always ask friends to donate to organizations like No Kid Hungry or Feeding America.

18. Send a Family Thankfulness Letter

Write an e-letter or text to your family, thanking them for everything they do for you. Your brother for mowing your lawn, your parents for their continuous love and support, your sister for picking up the kids at daycare or school when your work meeting is running late, etc.

19. Watch a Friend's Children

With the long Thanksgiving weekend comes the official kickoff of Christmas holiday chaos. This is the weekend when people go shopping, pick out Christmas trees, and put up outdoor Christmas decorations. Talk to your friends and see if they would like to do a “babysitting” swap over the long weekend. You take their kids for a few hours on Black Friday and then they can take yours for a few hours on Saturday. Or whatever day you work out. This way, each of you can get jump-started on the holidays in peace for a few hours. (Make sure you have a game plan so those hours don’t end up feeling wasted.)

There are all kinds of ways to serve others this Thanksgiving. Talk with your family and see how they would like to be involved and have a meaningful Thanksgiving.