1. Volunteer at a food kitchen or food bank.
2. Take kids to visit someone who lives at a nursing home or is confined at home because of poor health.
3. Buy some (or all) of the holiday-dinner groceries for a family in need in your community.
4. Have teens go through their winter clothes and coats, selecting items they no longer fit or wear but are still in good condition. Then give them to people without homes in your area or donate them to a local shelter.
5. Make some bag lunches and distribute them to people living on the streets.
6. Meet to make extra desserts for Thanksgiving.
Give the desserts to neighbors or to a family in need.
7. Find an elderly person who can use some help at the grocery store.
Better yet, ask a family to invite them over for a special holiday meal.
8. Look for a family in your church or neighborhood who can use help with fall yard cleanup, basic repairs, or weatherization projects.
Buy the needed materials and take the group to work on the project(s).
9. Invite families to join your youth group for a simple, fun family game night.
10. Thanksgiving Meal Scavenger Hunt
Split your group into equal teams. Make sure each team has at least one adult supervisor. Provide each team with a list of Thanksgiving meal items to collect. For example, the list can include cranberry sauce, potatoes, dressing, pumpkin pie, and even a turkey. Give the teams one hour to collect everything on the list. When teams return, the one with the most items on the list “wins.” Donate the items to a local food pantry, or work with your church’s outreach team to donate to families in your community. Finish your time by enjoying a simple meal together. Give thanks to God for all he has provided.
