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Make Your Giving Count This US Thanksgiving

Make your giving count this Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a celebration of the harvest and gifts of the year. It is not just a time to come together with family and friends and eat a delicious meal – it’s also a time to count your blessings and remember what we are thankful for. The holiday has come to symbolize intercultural peace where we join hands with the people we love.

Make Your Giving Count

Gratitude Not Just at Thanksgiving But Every Day

Why practice gratitude only one day of the year? We can all benefit from a daily practice of gratitude. Taking a few minutes each day to be thankful can instil a fresh and positive outlook. Sometimes it can be difficult to think this way – there are times where everything seems to be going wrong but by practising daily gratitude, the brain can become ‘rewired’ and positive ways of thinking can be easily accessed when we need it most. Practising gratitude every day will help you to gain a new perspective and allow you to focus on what is most important in your life. Perhaps you can develop the habit by starting a gratitude journal; try counting your blessings before bed, or first thing in the morning (before you pick up your phone when you wake up)? Need more convincing? Read this article about the benefits of keeping a gratitude journal.

Reach Out to Someone Who is Alone This Thanksgiving

The holidays are when family and friends get together to celebrate and catch up. For those who are not able to get together with loved ones it can be a difficult time. What can we do to help those who may be feeling lonely?

Why not take some leftover pumpkin pie to a neighbour who is alone? Take the time to phone your friend, whom you know can’t be with their family this weekend. Arrange to share a coffee and a chat with that person down the road who mentioned they aren’t celebrating with anyone this year. It does not take a lot of time to make a big difference to someone’s day!

Make Your Giving Count

Thanksgiving was historically known as the harvest festival, a time to give thanks for the harvest that would be sufficient for winter rations. In some parts of the UK, people still celebrate this, by collecting food donations for a local community food drive. By donating food, supplies and cash for food-banks and shelters, you can do your bit to help those who are struggling. Some states in the US also enjoy an annual ‘Turkey Trot’, where participators can fundraise for local charities and then shed those turkey-stuffing calories in a fun run. Check your local news for ways that you can give back to your community this fall.

With so many ways to spread happiness and reach out to those in need, there’s every reason to have a great Thanksgiving this year! Want to use Thanksgiving as your way to start giving every day? Check out our 365give Challenge and start giving simply every day to make our lives and communities a happier place.

 

What people are saying about 365give

“I wanted to express my gratitude for the teaching you provided today. Your message was delivered eloquently, compassionately, and without judgment. The kids were engaged, and now have knowledge with which they can change the world. We all appreciated how you took the time to help us learn to build positive mindsets and practice happiness.”
Shelley Gardner, Grade 6 Ridgeview Elementary (West Vancouver)
“Actions really do speak louder than words, which is why I believe the 365give Challenge has resonated throughout my community. Every give we do is so important to us and leaves us happier and appreciating our lives a little bit more than before.”
Mahina Niyozova (Tajikistan)
“After watching the 365give TEDx Talk, I was inspired to join and begin a daily giving program in India. Today, along with 12 other volunteer women, we provide 100 meals to local underprivileged children in Bangalore for school every day.”
Deepika Ahuja, Mom (Bangalore, India)
“My life has greater meaning now.”
Renate Jorge, @BeKindBrazil and 365give Member, Family Program (Brazil)
“I just wanted to share that 365give really helped me. I am a better person now, thank you.”
MayLee, 365give Member, Individual Program
“This 365give Challenge has really injected excitement and extra enthusiasm in each work day as I think about what we can do. It has motivated me and the students.”
Cristina Peters, School Counselor (New York City, USA)
“I have seen a huge shift in energy throughout my classroom since doing the 365give Challenge. The Challenge has empowered my students to make a positive difference in the school’s community and beyond.”
Cella Adriana, Special Needs Educator /The Holliswood School (New York City, USA)
“The 365give Challenge helps students understand their impact on others. It opens avenues for introducing and discussing global and local issues in classrooms. It is powerful to watch students of all ages think about how they can make a change in another person’s life with one small act.”
Jessica Hall, Primary Teacher, French Immersion at École Pauline Johnson (West Vancouver, Canada)