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The tradition of thanksgiving
The tradition of thanksgiving
Essays about philanthropy and volunteerism
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My grandmother and I frequently volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul and comforted the less advantageous. We would perform many tasks throughout the facility and assist the many volunteers who worked there. The most gratifying time of the year for me was Thanksgiving. I vividly remember my grandmother and me visiting the supermarket to purchase turkeys and multiple other items for those who were in need. We would drive back to St. Vincent's and unload turkeys into shopping carts and push them across the parking lot and into the store. As a young boy, I thought this was hard work, but I knew it was the right thing to do and could not fathom a family going without on this special day. When families came to pick up their meals, they
It was the summer of 2013 when I was living with my grandparents and they told me about volunteering at the church. I didn’t know what they were talking about, so I took the initiative to go find out for myself that following Sunday. I was in the balcony on Sunday, when I heard the announcements saying we can volunteer for their hope food pantry. I was excited because it was going to be a chance where I can help other and get community service hours. Volunteering I began to think positive thoughts and telling myself “ I am doing a good deed”.
Textbooks in today’s schools still tell the same story that has been handed down from generation to generation. Every year children dress up and put on plays about the famous story of the first Thanksgiving. No one knows the truth though or at least people pretend to not know the embarrassing truth of our “founding fathers.” Textbooks today give the candy coated version of good saintly Englishmen come to a better world and find good neighbors willing to help in their time of need.
On September 6, 1620, 102 men, women and children from England boarded a small cargo boat called the Mayflower and set sail for the New World. The passengers left their homes in England in search of religious freedom from the King of England. Today they are known as "pilgrims."
When the great holiday of Thanksgiving comes to mind, most people think of becoming total gluttons and gorging themselves with a seemingly unending amount of food. Others might think of the time spent with family and friends. The whole basis of the holiday is family togetherness, fellowship, and thankfulness for blessings received during the previous year.
During the summer or even on weekends my mom would take me with her to go help out her patients. Which included bathing them, feeding them, and caring for them. Not only did I help my mom with her patients but I would always help rake leaves, pick up trash and make their yard look nice. I can’t even image how they would’ve done all the things I did for them with their fragile bodies. I’m glad I was there for them and made a difference. Aside from helping my mom’s patients. I helped an elderly man who was on fire in his backyard. It was around spring time and I heard someone screaming yelling “help” so I went around to look and there he was on fire. I tried so hard to put out the fire and it felt like mission impossible but I did not give up even though the ambulance were on the way. He was burnt pretty bad, but I was so glad I found him. Who knows it could’ve been worse! He is still alive till this day and sits on his porch waiting for me to pass by his house every morning to say good morning. It’s such a wonderful feeling to know that I not only changed a life but I saved
Thanksgiving is a very important holiday in present-day American culture. People all throughout America take extra care to make this day a memorable and happy celebration. This tradition has been in the American lifestyle since 1621 when it first started. Even though this tradition has been altered and changed the significance and meaning remains the same. The first Thanksgiving was an important landmark and made a huge imprint in the American culture today.
When I was younger my grandfather would take me to a kitchen where I would help put together bags of food and other necessities for homeless people in the area. My grandmother worked at a nursing home so I would come up and entertain the people who didn’t get many visitors, and assist them to the best of my abilities. Helping those people every other week was so much fun, and I have always just loved helping out people in any way possible. I even helped from home, by helping my mom with bake sales that the profit made would go to various charities. I am not in StuCo, but I usually help them pack food for families in need through “Got Your
I stepped out of the chilly November air and into the warmth of my home. The first snowfall of the year had hit early in the morning, and the soft, powdery snow provided entertainment for hours. As I laid my furry mittens and warm hat on the bench to dry, I was immediately greeted with the rich scent of sweet apple pie, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and the twenty-pound turkey my mother was preparing for our Thanksgiving feast.
There is a strong aroma of turkey cooking slowly, brownish gravy bubbling in the pot, and just a hint of sweet, savory cranberry sauce filling the air. All these smells gathering together is causing an overpowering feeling of hunger. The kitchen is filled with activity as my mother and father move throughout the kitchen as if they were racing against the clock. I, along with my two sisters are found in the dining room setting up the big, darkly stained dining room table with the fine china plates that we only use once a year. You know, the ones with the intricate designs of flowers wrapping around each other, etched around the entirety of each individual glass, plate, and dish. It is Thanksgiving morning in my house and every year it starts
No fruitful information On the edge of winter comes November, re-introducing early evenings, brisk air and leafless trees but, before the dormancy of winter settles in, the annual compensation of Thanksgiving brings families and friends together to celebrate life with food. Common on most tables, turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie fill our stomachs and warm our hearts. Each Thanksgiving brings about the recognition of a year’s worth of changes and last Thanksgiving is no exception.
The date is November 12, 1997; it is a muggy night. Storm clouds crowd cover up the star-filled sky. A waitress, Nancy Forman, has just clocked out of her graveyard shift at Dan’s Diner. As she leaves she takes one step out of the door and makes a quick glance over the empty parking lot to reassure herself that she is alone. Nancy turns back and rotates the key until she hears the click of the dead blot and continues to the back of the restaurant to find her old model Ford Taurus. She has to jimmy the lock just right to open the door, as she is waiting for the car door to find its way open she hears a soft footstep approaching her. Nancy pulls the key out of the door and places the keys in between her fingers as she turns around to see a man
People wait in a huge line for hours and hours, but once they get their food, they knew it was worth the wait. Choosing this for my service project was a no-brainer, it involved the community, enough hours to complete the task, and volunteering. I wish that the foundation was a year round thing but they only serve during Thanksgiving holiday. It take 9 months for them to raise the money to put it on, and it take around $25,000 to do so. They get churches on board, local schools, and businesses of all kinds. I think the job I did there was important when it comes to my ideal of Civic Responsibility, because I was there for the people who could not help themselves in this expensive time of year. I pushed a shopping cart and filled it up with food, all while talking about their lives and making them smile and laugh, after the cart was full, I would load the food into their vehicles and send them on their
I also had the privilege of helping with the Meals on Wheels non profit organization. My grandfather used to be a Meals on Wheels recipient and he would share with me how he enjoyed looking forward to their company and a hot meal daily. I volunteered because I wanted to give back and help someone else’s loved one in the same way. It was very rewarding delivering hot meals to people who didn’t have the means of getting one as well as being there for them to talk to. Overall, it was a very humbling experience, it made me realize just how blessed I am and how much I take for granted daily.
I volunteered at East Parkside Nursing Home through my church 's mentoring program. At first, I was somewhat uncomfortable volunteering at a nursing home because my great-grandfather, among many others, was mistreated in a nursing home. But, as the day went on and we engaged in activities with the residents, I eventually calmed down and got into the smooth of things. We had one-on-one contact with the seniors, and we learned about their lives and families. One of the seniors was a veteran who fought in the Vietnam War and he told all of the volunteers a few short war stories. For several residents, their families rarely visited them, so they genuinely appreciated the volunteers spending time with them. Later, we made holiday cards and sang Christmas carols for the senior citizens. They seemed so elated and pleased, which made me feel so fulfilled that I could make someone 's day by doing something so
The most joyous season of the year in our house is Christmas. All the family gets together, gifts are exchanged and we give thanks for all that we have. This Christmas however, was one that I will never forget. If it weren't for the help of a stranger coming to my rescue, my holidays would have been ruined. He reminded me that a little kindness really does go along way.