I KNOW Thanksgiving is not yet upon us but is it too soon to start playing Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You?”
Not according to a lot of the people I follow on TikTok. With the COVID fog, it seems like the distance between Halloween and Christmas becomes shorter and shorter. I kid you not I’m writing this in Starbucks sipping on a pumpkin-spiced latte and there is a guy sitting opposite me right now in a Snowman sweater in 80-degree heat!
Only in LA right?
But one thing, we shouldn’t forget in between my two favorite seasons and that is Harvest time and/or Thanksgiving. In the USA it’s a time for family gatherings and usually a few family arguments, stuffing yourself with turkey and pumpkin pies! However, I remember in the UK it was a time of true giving. As a young boy, my schoolmates and I would all raid and empty the larder (American readers that’s a dry store cupboard) of all tinned goods that had been sitting on the shelf for a while and take them into school, where they would be distributed to the old peoples’ homes and the homeless shelters around the town. And my Dad would make meals for the older vets at the British legion.
This got me thinking about the ample opportunities you can participate during thanksgiving to do some good and help others less fortunate:”
LA Food Bank: (lafoodbank.org)
Volunteering at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is one of the best volunteer opportunities in LA. By donating a few hours of your time, you’ll help us provide food for the 2 million people in Los Angeles County who face food insecurity.
Volunteers help us by boxing, sorting, and gleaning food that is later distributed through our network of more than 700 agency partners to our neighbors in need.
Groups and individuals can easily register through this website. There are many ways for groups and individuals to get involved, and the details are below.
On behalf of the Food Bank, we thank our 15,000 volunteers who donated their time during 37,000 shifts for a total of 159,000 hours helping on-site at the Food Bank and at food distribution sites.
Project Angel Food: (support.angelfood.org)
This well known organization is actively seeking volunteers right now. They are planning to deliver up to 2,000 traditional turkey dinners to their critically ill clients and their caregivers on that very special day. Volunteer drivers are desperately needed to help the less blessed share in the magic of the season by delivering meals.
Even if you have plans on Thanksgiving Day, if you are in Los Angeles, a few hours can make the world of difference for a neighbor living with chronic or terminal illness. Project Angel Food is not just delivering traditional turkey meals with all the fixings, stuffing, green beans, and pie; they are also delivering hope, love and compassion to people who are often isolated and alone during the holidays.
Being a volunteer driver this Thanksgiving is easy and rewarding. You just need your own vehicle, a driver’s license, and proof of vaccination to participate.
Meals on Wheels (mealsonwheels.org)
Meals on Wheels operates in virtually every community in America through their network of more than 5,000 independently-run local programs. While the diversity of each program’s services and operations may vary based on the needs and resources of their communities, they are all committed to supporting their senior neighbors to live healthier and more nourished lives in their own homes.
Now if you can’t spare the time, perhaps you can spare a dime, and donate to these or many charities like it.
Anyway whatever you do this season, stay safe and grateful, I know I will!
Craig Young
