Giving More Than Just Thanks This Holiday Season

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, families have already started planning their holiday menus and travel arrangements. While Thanksgiving is primarily recognized as a time of appreciation for all that we have, it's also an important holiday for giving back to the community. According to FeedingAmerica.org, one in seven Rhode Islanders struggle with hunger. Thankfully, there are many ways to help our neighbors during this holiday season. Road Races Looking to give back while also getting some exercise? There are several road races around Thanksgiving that help local charities. Each year, the Newport Running Club organizes the Pie Run held on Thanksgiving morning in Middletown. The race is on a scenic five mile course by Sachuest Beach that starts and ends in front of the Newport County YMCA. There is also a three mile non-competitive walk. Participants are asked to bring one non-perishable food item that will benefit a local food bank. For more information or to register, go to www.newportrunningclub.org. Every Thanksgiving day, Pawtucket hosts the annual  Rhode Island Family Turkey Trot 5K & Kids Fun Run  that benefits the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen. To register to participate or volunteer, please visit  www.familyturkeytrot.com For 15 years St. Luke's School in Barrington has organized the annual Trot Off Your Turkey race held the day after Thanksgiving. The race features a raffle where participants receive one free raffle ticket for each canned good or non-perishable food item they bring on race day. For more information go to www.trotoffyourturkey.org. Dance for charity Feel like moving, but not a runner? Warwick’s The Dancing Feeling is holding a Thanksgiving Food Drive Dance at their studio in Warwick on Friday, November 21st. The Ballroom Dance lasts from 8pm until 11pm and participants are asked to bring any non-perishable food items with them to be donated to the Rhode Island Food Bank. Rhode Island Food Banks If you’d rather relax during the holiday, don’t worry, there are other ways you can help out. Each year, NBC 10 partners with Shaw’s and The Salvation Army to provide food baskets to 3,000 families in Southern New England. Donating is easy—in participating Shaw’s supermarkets there are marked shopping carts inside the store to donate non-perishable food items. Monetary donations can also be made online. Local food banks are always looking for volunteers and donations regardless of the time of year. The Rhode Island Food Bank has a list of needed food on their website, as well as a list of their member agencies.