On your next trip to the grocery store, have your child help you select a variety of nonperishable food items to place in a grocery bag and donate to a local food bank.

Visit a homeless shelter on Thanksgiving and become one of the volunteers who serve Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless in your community.

Have your child help you take inventory of her clothing from last summer. Since she will likely outgrow these warm-weather clothes before she is able to wear them again, have her help you select pieces that are in good condition to donate to a nearby thrift shop or family shelter.

Teach children to appreciate the resources that we have! Set up a recycling can next to your trash can and recycle aluminum, plastic, and paper products to show your child that it is important to do your part in caring for our environment.

As you prepare for Thanksgiving dinner, bake an extra batch of cookies or an additional pie and donate it to a veterans’ home as a show of appreciation for their service to our country.

Too many toys cluttering up your child’s closet? Over the Thanksgiving holiday, encourage him to take a few minutes to go through his room and select a dozen or so gently used toys to donate to a local charity. (Many homeless shelters, children’s hospital waiting rooms, or Salvation Army centers will gladly accept clean toys in good condition.)

Encourage family harmony within your home! If you have more than one child, provide them with some decorative Thanksgiving stationery and cute autumn stamps or stickers, and encourage them to write notes of appreciation to their siblings. (For only children, have them write the notes to grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins.)

Before diving into Thanksgiving dinner, invite your guests to share something for which they are thankful.