Giving back on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a good time to give others a hand. And so is the rest of the year.

If you think preparing Thanksgiving dinner for your family is tough, try cooking for 2,500. A large and diverse group of volunteers will do just that at the Westside Thanksgiving Community Dinner and Celebration, where all are invited to belly up to a communal feast. As the name implies, this event involves more than just food. Free medical consultations, children’s immunizations, clothing distribution, haircuts and eye exams will all be offered to seniors, students, low-income families and the homeless. A carnival with games, arts and crafts will make sure little ones stay entertained.

It’s all made possible by donations and volunteers. Many have signed up already—so many, in fact, that if you want to pitch in you’ll probably have to wait in line. The event still needs turkeys, though, so the best way to help probably involves dropping off a fully-cooked bird between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

The Thanksgiving Day event takes place on Thursday, November 24, at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St. It starts at 8 a.m. and dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. See the website’s frequently asked questions section for more details. 

Those looking for another way to contribute to a worthy cause might consider joining a Thanksgiving Day bike ride benefiting Meals on Wheels. Riders gather at 7:45 a.m. in Brentwood, and go as far as 50 miles roundtrip, but you can join in progress if you’d like to sleep more, or pedal less. More route details are here. 

However you may choose to give back, please remember that the need for food, supplies and volunteers isn’t limited to the holiday season. Harsh economic times mean more demand and fewer donations, so year-round help is more important than ever. Westside Food Bank, Valley Food Bank, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and other charities stand ready to gather and distribute supplies. Donations of goods, money or time can go a long way toward helping those who need it most.

Posted 11/22/11