Thanksgiving is here and the holiday season is upon us. There is so much to do and many places to be, people to meet and items to check off our lists. This is a time when it is easy to forget what the holidays are all about. Thanksgiving can go by in a whirl of great food, toasts to friends and family and football games. Before you know it, the day has passed. If you are looking for something more to do in celebration of all you have to be thankful for this year, there are plenty of great events going on that can add to your festivities. Many of them also benefit others, which is an ideal way to get into the spirit of the holiday season. You can give thanks and give back.
What would Thanksgiving be without a Turkey Trot or two? There are several races on Thursday November 26th, from fun runs to running against hunger. A Turkey Trot offers a great way for you to help others, have a nice run and spend some time with friends and family. If you are not a runner, these events are always in need of volunteers so you can still be a part of what has for many communities become a Thanksgiving Day tradition.
In San Jose we have the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, which benefits several local charities. It’s all about healthy living with the Turkey Trot as the proceeds raised from the 5k or 10k run/ walk, or kids fun run go to organizations such as Healthier Kids Foundation, Housing Trust Silicon Valley, Second Harvest Food Banks and The Health Trust. If you are closer to San Francisco, you can help Feed the City. This three mile run starts and ends at AT&T Park, with runners going along the San Francisco Bay Trail and the Embarcadero. The proceeds from this run go towards the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.
There are also countless ways to volunteer on Thanksgiving. With the focus of Thanksgiving itself being the food we share, helping those in need have a warm meal is a great way to give back. Local church groups,, shelters and organizations of all kinds will be working together to do just this. During Give Together in Walnut Creek, families are coming together to help pack food boxes for those in need. This is a volunteer opportunity designed with families in mind as part of the goal is to encourage volunteering across generations. There is also Thanksgiving Day Outreach going on in San Francisco. This event has been established to provide assistance with food and other services to those in need. There is a variety of jobs that need filling by volunteers and families with children are also encouraged to join in.
Whatever you do to celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you take some time to remember what it is all about. We live in some pretty chaotic times, and not all things are pleasant. Tragedies happen and there are days filled with grief and sorrow. But if we can take a day to reach out to others, those we know and even those we don’t; to show that we still care about our community and each other, then we can get another day of joy to remember. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday full of great food, good friends and lots of great memories. When you are ready to buy or sell a home, we at Haylen Group are here to help you with all of your real estate needs! If you are unsure what your options are, call Helen Chong at (408) 800-LIST or email at Helen@HaylenGroup.com. You can also visit us at our website for available listings and additional information.
