Thanksgiving is upon us. It is my favorite time of year. The Christmas tree goes up, I spend a four-day weekend with loved ones, and it starts the holiday season (and buying gifts for the kids).  

I thought about pulling a George Costanza by giving my kids a gift saying “a donation was made on their part”. That’ll go over like a fart in church.  But when I jokingly thought about that I realized that maybe I could do something like that. 

The little hamster in my head started running on his wheel and started my brain up. What if I donated 1/2 the money that I spend on kids’ gifts to a homeless shelter? So for example, if I spend $2000 on gifts, I donate $1000 to a shelter. 

For the last few years, I have been donating socks to homeless shelters, because socks are the least donated item and are the most needed. 

The last two years have been hard on almost everyone. The holiday season is the time to give back to everyone in need.  Teaching our children to give back starts at an early age. When they see what their parents are doing to help others, it stays with them for their lifetime.  

So I encourage everyone to find a local shelter and donate this holiday season. It’s not a gift that you’ll see someone open but you will feel the joy and satisfaction of knowing that you helped people this holiday season. 

Have a great Thanksgiving weekend everyone. 


Native New Yorker, now living in Connecticut. Husband, and father of two amazing boys. Kidney transplant recipient, and a big supporter of organ donation #donatelife. Mortgage banker, but not by choice. In my free time, I enjoy golf, reading (especially presidential biographies), and finding that hole-in-the-wall restaurant that has great food.

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