50 Ways to Show Charity and Love This Thanksgiving Season

Thanksgiving is a built-in reminder of generosity, woven right into our yearly rhythm. 

We’re reminded to give back to our community, our church, and the people we love. 

But the season can get so busy that it’s hard to know where to begin.

That’s why we’ve created this list of 50 simple, meaningful ways to bless someone this Thanksgiving (or anytime!). Save it, share it, and use it whenever you want to brighten someone’s day.

And who knows? You might be surprised by just how blessed you feel in the process!

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

1. Lend a hand with household chores.
2. Bring someone a cozy fall drink.
3. Smile at everyone you meet.
4. Thank your pastor for their message.
5. Donate gently used clothes, especially winter wear.
6. Drop off canned goods at your local food pantry.
7. Invite a younger woman out for coffee over Thanksgiving break.
8. Text a friend you haven’t heard from in a while.
9. Drop off a sweet treat for a neighbor.
10. Offer to pick up mail, water plants, or check on the house of someone traveling.
11. Give someone a much-needed hug.
12. Leave a thank-you note or kind email for a coworker.
13. Ask your waiter or waitress what they’re thankful for this year.
14. Give a genuine compliment to someone you’ve just met.
15. Invite a college student or someone far from home to Thanksgiving dinner.
16. Pay for the car behind you in the drive-thru.
17. Return stray shopping carts or hangers to their proper place.
18. Write Scripture on a sticky note and place it thoughtfully in a public space.
19. Let someone go ahead of you in line.
20. Bake a pie for someone who could use encouragement.
21. Deliver a care package to someone who might need extra comfort.
22. Volunteer at a local shelter or church outreach.
23. Send a handwritten card “just because.”
24. Leave an extra-large tip for someone working holiday hours.
25. Compliment a mom wrangling kids in public.
26. Donate to a nonprofit you care about in someone’s honor.
27. Bring snacks to your workplace break room.
28. Pray for someone right on the spot when they share a need.
29. Hold the door for the person behind you (no matter how long it takes).
30. Share an encouraging message or comment with someone on social media.
31. Share your favorite Thanksgiving recipe with a friend.
32. Offer to run an errand for someone swamped with holiday prep.
33. Surprise your spouse with their favorite treat.
34. Let someone else choose the song or the movie.
35. Babysit for a tired parent so they can rest.
36. Call a grandparent or older friend (they’ll love it!)
37. Bring flowers to someone who’s had a difficult year.
38. Text out a verse that encouraged you this week.
39. Leave positive reviews for small businesses you love.
40. Give away a book that meant a lot to you.
41. Take a prayer walk around your neighborhood, praying for each home.
42. Invite a neighbor to your church’s Thanksgiving or Christmas service.
43. Compliment someone’s cooking, outfit, or creativity.
44. Hold someone’s baby so they can eat with two hands.
45. Clean out your car and offer someone a ride.
46. Share your fire pit or backyard for a cozy fall hangout.
47. Thank retail workers (you’ll make their day).
48. Leave $5 taped to a vending machine with a kind note.
49. Tell someone specific ways you’re thankful for them.
50. Pray over your Thanksgiving table for the people who aren’t sitting there and ask God to show you how to love them well this season.

As you step into this season of gratitude, remember that blessing others doesn’t have to be big or elaborate. Sometimes the smallest gestures carry the greatest love. 

Whether you choose one idea or all fifty, may each act of kindness point others, and your own heart, back to the Giver of every good gift (James 1:17).

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! May your gratitude overflow.