| If you are trying to think of something special to | | | | check with the staff of a facility and ask what |
| do for the Thanksgiving holiday, one idea to | | | | you can contribute. You may be able to prepare a |
| consider is to do some sharing with people who | | | | quantity of pies or other homemade food items |
| are less fortunate than yourself. If you put a little | | | | or make decorations to brighten the facility and |
| time into checking around in your community, you | | | | make it more festive. Depending on their needs, |
| are almost certain to find those who will benefit | | | | you may also be asked to help with clean-up or |
| from, and appreciate, this expression of caring | | | | transporting meals. Before preparing gift baskets |
| from you. Consider doing your part to help make | | | | or boxes it is best to first check out their specific |
| the holiday brighter and happier for them. | | | | needs. |
| One possibility is to volunteer your time and | | | | Another way of making Thanksgiving a time of |
| services at a nursing home, a homeless shelter or | | | | sharing is to make this type of gifting a family |
| a residence for troubled youth. Depending on the | | | | effort. Gather your family together long before |
| needs of the facility and your own talents, this | | | | the holiday and ask them how they feel about |
| can include anything from helping to prepare the | | | | taking a few hours of the holiday and doing |
| Thanksgiving dinner to dealing with clean-up chores | | | | something for others. You may be pleasantly |
| afterward or making decorations for display. The | | | | surprised at how many, especially children, will love |
| staff also will surely appreciate your assistance in | | | | the idea of volunteering their time and talents to |
| all of these important areas as an extra pair of | | | | make the day brighter for those who are less |
| hands is always useful, but even more so during a | | | | fortunate. |
| hectic holiday. | | | | Whatever your particular talents, abilities, and |
| If you decide to do this, the best way to go | | | | however much time you are reasonably able to |
| about it is to speak with the person who is in | | | | spare, there is always something that you can do |
| charge so that he or she can let you know how | | | | to help other people have a better and more |
| you can be of the most help and to discuss the | | | | enjoyable holiday. If you have the desire to do |
| details with you. They may already have | | | | this, you will not have to look very long or far to |
| everything planned and will tell you how you can | | | | find people who can benefit from your acts of |
| fit in or they may be open to suggestions that | | | | kindness. Thanksgiving is a time for sharing; and |
| you may have about what you can do or | | | | you, too, will know the deepest satisfaction of |
| contribute. | | | | that fact when you have shared a part of your |
| If your own holiday schedule is very full and you | | | | Thanksgiving and of yourself with those who |
| are short on time, there are still ways in which | | | | very much need what you have to give. |
| you can be of service to others. One way is to | | | | |