In case you weren’t aware or hadn’t ever thought about it, Thanksgiving typically is not an occasion for a lot of shipping (unlike the upcoming holiday shipping season). It isn’t very easy to ship a turkey or Grandma’s famous stuffing, but that doesn’t mean Thanksgiving isn’t a good time to share love. This can be hard to do when you’re far away from those you love – whether you’re deployed or in the military or limited in your ability to travel. Sending cards or making phone calls is a good way to keep in touch. Skype and FaceTime have changed the way we communicate across long distances and can ease the pain of being far away. Traditionally, Thanksgiving is thought of as a time to spend with family cooking, eating, and sharing memories together. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year, but this can be a very difficult time for people who don’t get to look forward to Thanksgiving with family. If you can’t be with your loved ones this Thanksgiving (or even if you can!), here are some suggestions for how to spread the love and care of the holiday:
- Volunteer at a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen.
- Invite other friends or coworkers who cannot be with their family to a “Friendsgiving” celebration.
- If you are part of a church or other community, there are typically people who will be alone during the holidays who would appreciate being invited to Thanksgiving dinner.
- Stop by a senior home or rehab facility to visit with those who may not have someone coming to see them.
- Participate in a Thanksgiving Day race that benefits a local charity. Check out Running in the USA for a list of races throughout the country.
- Take a treat to nurses and doctors at a local hospital to thank them for giving up their Thanksgiving holiday.
No matter where you are, what you do, or who you spend Thanksgiving with, all of us at Pak Mail wish you a healthy and happy holiday.