Thanksgiving is less than a month away, and many of us are focused on family, friends, and a great meal. However, there’s more to the season than simply eating all we can manage and spending time with our loved ones. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our blessings and perhaps even give back if we’ve prospered during the year. Here are some ways to do just that.

Donate to Your Church or Local Charity

One of the best and most heartwarming ways to give thanks and give back during the Thanksgiving holiday season involves making a cash, food, clothing, or even blanket donation to your church or your favorite local charity. These groups work hard to provide comforts to those in need, whether those involve warm places to sleep, hot meals, or even blankets to stay warm.

Offer to Pay for Thanksgiving Dinner

If you won’t be preparing this year’s Thanksgiving meal for your family and friends, you could always offer to pick up some or all of the grocery tab. After all, whomever does the preparing usually does the buying, too. Just think of how grateful your friend or family member would be to have some relief from the burden of preparing a relatively expensive meal for so many people.

Unplug and Reflect

We often rely far too heavily on gadgets and gizmos, whether we’re scrolling Facebook on our phones, answering emails on our computers, or watching movies on our tablets. Though giving up the holiday football game may be tough, especially if it’s tradition, you might be surprised at how refreshing it is to pay attention to your friends and family instead of a screen. Try playing some games, such as Yahtzee or even Uno. These are fun for all ages, and they will guarantee some smiles.

Bake for a Good Cause

While you’re celebrating Thanksgiving by having dinner with your friends and family, there are police officers, firemen, nurses, and others who have to work on holidays to protect and serve the public. The day before Thanksgiving, get together with some family members to bake up some goodies, and on Thanksgiving Day, deliver them to your local police and fire stations, hospitals, and nursing homes. There’s no denying these people will be overwhelmed just knowing you took time out of your day to thank them for what they do.

Volunteer at a Shelter

It may seem cliché, but for many people who volunteer their time at shelters, it’s a life-changing experience. You might opt to prepare and hand out Thanksgiving dinner to men, women, and children in need, which can be quite rewarding, especially if you take the time to talk to the visitors who come there. You may be surprised at some of their stories and their positivity despite their situations.

Thanksgiving is a time to look around at all you have – your friends, your family, a warm home – and truly give thanks for your blessings. As you do so, remember those who aren’t as fortunate as well as those who rarely celebrate holidays with their loved ones just so they can watch over you.