If you’re thankful for your health:
Run a local 5k. An easy 3.1 jog justifies that extra piece of pumpkin pie, and proceeds typically go to multiple sclerosis, cancer research, poverty relief and many more organizations.
If you’re thankful for your college experience:
Volunteer with your local Headstart group in your community. Or, volunteer to read to children at your local library. All you need is the ability to read—and if you’re reading this right now I think you’re all set. Children adore this hour of your time, and you could imprint the importance of reading into their little minds, inspiring them to become little intellectuals.
If you’re thankful for your financial stability:
Donate to Kiva.org. Kiva is a well known organization which provides vendors, families, entrepreneurs, and farmers with financial relief. Kiva incorporates the method of micro-lending. Simply, you go online and donate $25 dollars to someone (typically in a developing country) who needs money to keep their business growing. You will gain the $25 back in increments, as the borrower has a payment schedule to pay you back. You will get your $25 back, and can then lend it to someone else! The positive cycle never ends, and you get to see the faces and stories behind who you help.
If you’re thankful for your clothing and other material items:
Don’t be afraid to say goodbye to the stuff you don’t use anymore! When you return home for Thanksgiving break, look around your room. Whatever has been sitting in there obviously wasn’t important enough to make the checklist when you went off to school. Do you really need that blouse in two different colors? Probably not. You can drop off items at your local Goodwill, or at any drop off bins located in common parking lots. Homeless shelters and half-way houses are often very accepting of these donations.
If you’re thankful for the copious spread of food on your Thanksgiving table:
You probably saw this one coming: Volunteer at your local soup kitchen. All you have to do is place a 30-second phone call to your local soup kitchen, and they can find a time for you to come in and work. The people you meet often have great stories, and they appreciate your time.
Don’t have time? Run a food collection drive. Search through your house for non-perishables. Send out a text asking your friends at home if they have anything. When you go back to school, scan your room and ask around. Post a status. Non-perishables are enthusiastically accepted at soup kitchens, food banks, homeless shelters, Ronald McDonald houses, and places like the Geisinger House of Care.