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Thanksgiving is a cherished holiday for the American people. Football, food, and best of all, family. As beautiful as this beloved day is, there are those that will not be as fortunate to enjoy the festivities. Maybe you’re heading home for Turkey day, or spending it with your loved ones, wherever you’ll be, there will be a need. Here are some great volunteer opportunities in New York City and Los Angeles for you to make this special day, special for someone else.

New York City

1. God’s Love We Deliver
Every day at God’s Love We Deliver, they rely on an army of dedicated volunteers to make sure that every carrot is chopped, every client’s question is answered and every meal is packaged and delivered with love. There are some particular days throughout the year where they need even more help for holidays and special projects.
Volunteer: God’s Love is currently looking for volunteers on Thanksgiving morning, November 28th. Please register online today!

2. New York Cares
Join local volunteers in the Midland Beach community as they come together to prepare and serve meals to hurricane Sandy survivors in the neighborhood. The first shift will be preparing the food for serving.
Volunteer: Serve Thanksgiving Dinner for Sandy Survivors.

3. Greenpoint Church
Volunteers are always needed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. You can volunteer when you can and stay as long as you like. The times listed on their website are approximate, and you do not have to arrive at the beginning of them or stay throughout the entire time. See more for Thanksgiving Day volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer: Visit Greenpoint Church’s website for Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities.

4. Neighborhoods Together
Help provide 30 warm meals to hundreds of people during the cold holiday season
For the 30 meals that Neighbors Together serves after Thanksgiving — between December 2nd and December 20th –we invite you and your community to sponsor a lunch or dinner for the many hungry people who come through our doors.
Volunteer: Join Neighborhoods Together for their Thrifty Thanksgiving celebration.

5. The Bowery Mission
Last year, The Bowery Mission served more than 8,000 meals to men, women and children on Thanksgiving day alone. On a typical day, we serve over 1,000. Each meal costs $1.59 to serve – and it could be the first step toward transforming a life. Your generous support makes all of this possible.
Volunteer: Register with The Bowery Mission to help serve on Thanksgiving Day.

Los Angeles

1. Los Angeles Mission
Los Angeles Mission is looking forward to the opportunity to feed their hungry neighbors, not just with a hot, nutritious holiday meal, but also with something even greater-love. This year they expect to provide more than 3,500 Thanksgiving meals to hurting men, women and children.  It’s a huge celebration, requiring a great deal of preparation, organization, donations and funding.
Volunteer: Register to volunteer and participate in the Thanksgiving celebration with Los Angeles Mission.

2. Midnight Mission
Downtown LA’s Midnight Mission is one of the best-run organizations of its kind, offering counseling, education, training and job placement to the city’s homeless population, as well as food, shelter, personal hygiene and medical care. Along with regular meal services and food donation drives, the Mission holds special Thanksgiving and Christmas events.
Volunteer: If you’d like to help on Thanksgiving, register here. Note: Because it’s an all-male facility, Midnight Mission asks that female volunteers come with a companion (male or female).

3. Union Station
For more than 35 years, Union Station Homeless Services has hosted Holiday Dinners-in-the-Park on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. This incredible community event provides thousands of holiday meals and hope for all who attend, including homeless men, women, children, seniors, very low-income families, and those with no place to go during the holidays. The impact of this event in the community is huge!
Volunteer: You can volunteer with Union Station on Thanksgiving day from 11am-3pm for Dinner in the Park.

4. Food on Foot
Foot on Foot invites you to participate in one of our biggest events of the year on Thursday, November 28th, from 2:00-5:00pm. Make your holiday a memorable experience and spend Thanksgiving Day distributing food and sleeping bags to hundreds of poor and homeless.
Volunteer: Advance registration is required as volunteer spaces fill up quickly every year.

5. Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission
The Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission is a non-profit organization in the San Fernando Valley committed to meeting the needs of the hungry, homeless and destitute. Based on biblical principles, they are actively engaged in feeding, sheltering, and restoring broken lives.
Volunteer: Join Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission by volunteering for their Thanksgiving Banquet.

If you know of any organizations in need of volunteers in your city, please share!

FROM THE EDITOR
At Conscious, we are inspired by remarkable people, and so we set out to tell stories that highlight real human interactions and human dignity. You can read more stories like this when you pick up your copy of Conscious Magazine. Subscribe today via our Conscious Shop and sign-up for Conscious Updates.