If I asked you to name three things you associate with Thanksgiving, you’d probably say food, football or friends and family. This isn’t surprising, as most of us spend Thanksgiving around a dinner table, stuffing our face with turkey and mashed potatoes while family members bicker with each other. However, this isn’t how the holiday was intended to be. 

Thanksgiving  is an annual holiday in the United States that celebrates the blessings of the past year. It is believed by many that this tradition of honoring what you are thankful for is modeled after the 1621 harvest feast, which symbolizes the celebration of harvest and generosity. Thanksgiving is about helping and giving back to others. Rather than fighting over the last dinner roll with a cousin or shouting over a football game, we should make sure to appreciate and give back to others during the holiday season.

I believe there are a few ways to do this, which I believe are increasingly important in our ever-divided world. I feel that if someone has the means to, they should put the “giving” back into Thanksgiving.

Volunteer at a soup kitchen

You can help provide Thanksgiving dinner to those who can’t afford an extravagant meal. Volunteering at a soup kitchen gives people a safe space to stay warm and eat a nice meal while being able to socialize with others. 

Donate to a food bank

This is less hands-on than scooping potatoes onto people’s plates, but just as significant. By donating to a food bank, people have the ability to come pick up food items to complete their Thanksgiving meal at home. A package of stuffing may be $4 to you, but it can create a memory for a family that might not have otherwise been able to afford it

Start a food drive

If you want to take on a bigger task, you can organize your own food drive. People can drop off food items to the drive, such as canned green beans, instant potatoes and other nonperishable items. Then, you can donate them all to an organization of your choosing. This could be a food pantry, a church, a homeless shelter or somewhere else. 

Donate warm clothes to shelter

Just as important as a warm meal is warm clothes. With cold weather approaching, people will need coats, hats and other winter clothing. Unfortunately, these items can get pricey. By donating an old scarf you don’t wear anymore or a coat you grew out of, you could be brightening someone’s day and helping to keep them warm.

If you like these ideas but have no idea where to start, you can do it right on campus at Replenish. Replenish provides basic needs to students at Grand Valley State University for free, and is supported through donations. Their supply ranges from items like toothbrushes and body wash to pasta and pancake mix. What better place to get involved than in your own community?

These may seem like trivial things to do, but it is amazing what some of us take for granted each day. Being able to not worry about food or how to stay warm are truly some of the biggest blessings during this time of year. While you should still enjoy football games and spend time with your family, try to give back over Thanksgiving break, as you never know when you may fall on tough times yourself.