Be Thankful – Give to Others in November

Giving Tuesday is upon us:

Here we feature opportunities around Connecticut led by local heroes who are actively serving others. Our favorite ones are led by youth or for youth! You can help others in your own region many ways that your schedule allows this month – use your time and talents to join a team initiative or start your own.

Community Helpers:

• Middlesex YMCA
• All YMCAS!
• Connecticut Children’s Medical Center:
• Connecticut Foodshare
• Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation
• Feeding America
• Hole in the Wall Gang Camp Fund
• Wounded Warrior Project
• Your Local Library

Theaters:

• Jorgensen Center For the Performing Arts’ Joy Foundation
• The Bushnell’s Education Series
• Waterbury’s Palace Theater

Helping Animals:

• Connecticut Humane Society
• Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue
• Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo
• Mystic Aquarium
• Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk

CT Based International Groups:

• Americares
• Save the Children

Other ways to give:

• Start with Connecticut Foodshare – you can help provide a traditional Thanksgiving meal for thousands of people inflation in 2023 has made this season more challenging. Find a location to drop off a turkey, buy ingredients for sides, or donate cash so that food can be purchased for those in need this year.  With today’s economic uncertainty, the needs of our community and the food bank have never been greater. Any amount is appreciated! Thanksgiving is for ALL!

Give the gift of a warm meal this Thanksgiving!

• Several community food drives will take place across the state. Click on this link to find a site near you.
• Pumpkin Bread – yum! Kids Helping Kids CT (KHK) is at it again to sell hundreds of loaves of pumpkin bread.  All proceeds directly fund KHK youth-led projects that help other kids in need.  Watch the Kids Bake Pumpkin Bread for a Cause annual bread drive video: https://youtu.be/X2wt4GEmWTs.  Learn more how you can get bread or donate!
• Coat Drives are important at this time of year now that the temperatures have gotten colder, and heating costs have increased.  Please consider donating a gently-used or new coat for any age this season.
• Popular food blog, Delish, offers suggestions on how you can serve others:  Where To Volunteer On Thanksgiving 2023 (delish.com)
  • help at a local soup kitchen – it’s a great way to support homeless and food insecure people in your area. Check out the directory of soup kitchens and contact the local facility to see if they accept in-kind donations. They’ll surely reach out to you when short-staffed.
  • decorate a community space – this is an easy and enjoyable opportunity for people who want to get creative and add some holiday cheer to the lives of others. Contact your local community or recreation center to see if they need help for Thanksgiving.
  • collect donations for a local food bank – want to become a Thanksgiving volunteer at Feeding America? It’s a great way to help people in need during the holiday season and provide various groups like seniors, families and schools with hot meals and food they can’t afford for numerous reasons.
  • clean up a public space – if you’re looking for an opportunity to help the environment and make your community look nicer, this is the perfect option for you. Contact your local government or park officials to see if they need help with Thanksgiving cleanup.
  • walk dogs from a local shelter – are you an animal lover who would like to help out pets in need and get some exercise at the same time? If so, visit a local animal shelter to see what kind of support they require. Such institutions usually offer a wide range of Thanksgiving volunteering opportunities. Apart from walking the dogs, you can collect food, toys and money for animal rescues in your area.
  • take part in charity events – many organizations host special Thanksgiving events to raise awareness and funds for their cause. You can volunteer to help with the planning and execution or simply participate in such events to popularize them.
  • run in turkey trots – these are popular foot races of various distances, held on Thanksgiving morning or around the holiday to raise money for different charities. It’s a chance to volunteer in a great atmosphere and help with the organization. If you’re a sportsperson, you can simply take part in the event to burn extra calories and get in some movement for a good cause.
  • create maps of facilities in need of more volunteers – mapping facilities in need of help can be an excellent way to share opportunities with those looking to volunteer and assist communities. You can easily create and share embeddable maps like these through social mapping apps like YouMap.

And after Thanksgiving, it’s Giving Tuesday in Connecticut on November 28 to keep museums, historic houses, and all non-profits thriving during the current economic conditions.

#fulfillLOCALneeds and donate forget to practice gratitude in your family – it’s THANKS GIVING!