Thanksgiving is not only a time to indulge into delicious turkey, it is also a time to serve people around you. Here are ten amazing ideas to celebrate Thanksgiving with your family while giving back to your community.

1)     Let’s turkey trot!

Participating in a turkey trot allows you to raise money for an organization while getting your exercise on! If you can’t find a race near you, you can always get some friends together and run your own race and fundraise through Crowdrise.

2)     Volunteer at a Food Bank!

Help sort turkeys, canned food items, or pies at a food bank so that they can deliver these items to families in need. Don’t forget these tips for volunteering during the holidays!

3)     Donate to a food Bank!

Something as simple as donating a turkey to a food bank can change the lives of so many families. Donating food is just fine, but food banks can stretch your dollars farther than you can imagine. Consider donating foods and funds.

4)     Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen!

Gather your friends, family, and neighbors to prepare Thanksgiving dinners for the homeless.

5)     Deliver meals to homebound citizens and/or to senior citizens!

This requires a meal and a smile, an easy way to cheer up someone’s holiday. You might even make some new friends!

6)     Get those creative juices flowing: decorate a retirement home or a hospital

You never know what a splash of color or a paper turkey can do to someone’s mood during the holidays.

7)     Thank somebody: Write Thank you letters to Veterans!

Show your appreciation to a veteran by thanking them with a simple thank-you note for their time of service. Take some time to listen to their stories, too.

8)     Organize a neighborhood thanksgiving dinner!

This allows for you to interact with people in your community, get to know people, and comfort people who were not able to visit family or have family over for Thanksgiving!

9) Turgiving

Invite friends over for this festive feast! Tell them to bring a canned food item in exchange for a slice of pie, or some dressing, or mac & cheese.

10)  Volunteer at your local Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Volunteering at your local parade brings together your family for a fun event. You get enjoy the parade while being in the presence of some awesome volunteers.

We hope these tips help make your holiday more meaningful. Got anymore ideas? Share them in the comments section!