Alternative Thanksgiving

If you're without a group to join for dinner or you'd rather not spend all day Thursday around a table, consider volunteering for Thanksgiving. Here are some ideas:

So Others Might Eat is holding a Turkey Trot. Register online and join Mayor Fenty in a 5k to end hunger.

Food and Friends serves Thanksgiving dinners to those with HIV/AIDS. Sign up here to volunteer to prepare meals or deliver them.

If you are hosting a traditional Thanksgiving meal, ask your guests to bring a donation to the Capital Area Food Bank with them to dinner. Funds raised can then be donated online here. Bread for the City is also seeking donations for its holiday meals programs. Your neighbor, Central Union Mission, needs donations as well to help provide holiday meals.

You may also be thinking about making charitable donations as we reach the end of the year. You may also be feeling a little stressed about money right now. If you don't want to make a large donation in this economically challenging environment, consider setting up a small regular payment to an organization that you believe in. Many organizations have recurring donation forms which authorize them to make a periodic charge to a credit or debit card. You can also set up recurring payments through your bank.

All of these opportunities for volunteering and donating will continue through Christmas, so please keep these ideas in mind over the next month.