The Spirit of Gratitude

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! On a day bustling with holiday cheer and the spirit of giving, there are some of us spending it in search for food, shelter, and warmth. This includes people we know and people we don’t know. 48 million Americans struggle with hunger everyday.

The good news is that we can help each other not only during the holidays, but all throughout the year as well. We’ve put together a list of things you can do to help!

1. Drop off clothing and/or food at local food bank or food pantry

Food banks are a great resource for food and clothing. Look up your local food bank here. Aside from holiday meals to those in need, providing accessibility to food and groceries to families throughout the year are one of the services that food banks provide. A nutritious meal can go a long way. The Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) provided nearly 200,000 articles of clothing last year, free of charge, to families and individuals in need throughout the Sacramento community. These gifts can help keep families warm, dress for job interviews, school uniforms, seasonal weather attire, and more.

2. Donate Online

If you’re unable to make it to a food bank or don’t live near one, you can make a contribution on Feeding America, where $1 provides 11 meals for families that need it.

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Your donation will make a difference.

3. Visit A Retirement or Veterans Home

Retirement and Veterans homes are likely to have some residents who won’t see family members during Thanksgiving. Determine what visiting hours are first, and bring a small gift if you wish — or simply give the gift of good conversation. They will thank you immensely for your visit, however, you will be the one feeling thankful, leaving with a full heart.

4. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen

Soup Kitchens receive an increase of volunteers during the holidays, but it’s important to remember that hunger is a year-round problem. Still, most soup kitchens are grateful for the extra volunteers. Call local churches or check out Homeless Shelter Directory to find local shelters, pantries and soup kitchens. 15 million kids struggle with hunger every year.

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5. Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels delivers more than 1 million meals each day to the home-bound, and many of those served by the program are elderly. The organization is always looking for volunteers.
There are opportunities everywhere to give back to your community. A friendly smile or small act of kindness to a stranger in passing can change their day.

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