Show Your Thanks with Giving

Cranberries? Check. Stuffing? Check. Turkey? Of course! Mashed potatoes? Check. Dog and cat food? What?

As you gather the necessities for your Thanksgiving dinner, it is also a good time to take time out to think of others. This even includes others of a four-legged variety. Various locations throughout the Greater Philadelphia area have been designated as spots to drop off dog and cat food to help furry friends also be thankful this holiday season.

For a full list of locations in Montgomery County, you can visit the Philadoptables website. Local sites are in need of dog or cat food. Contributions will be distributed to animal shelters in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.

You can also donate to local animal shelters on the site by clicking on the yellow “Donate” button. Payments are even accepted via PayPal.

If you’d like to help the neighbors that walk upright on two legs, there are ways to do that too this Thanksgiving holiday season. As usual, the Preston and Steve crew, a morning radio show on 93.3 WMMR, will host its annual Camp Out for Hunger.

The show’s duo will spend Monday, Nov. 28 through Friday, Dec. 2 camping out at The Metroplex Shopping Center in Plymouth Meeting. Area residents can feel free to stop by anytime during the week with donations of nonperishable food items.

Those that can’t make it to the scene live that week are welcome to shop from home. Working with Acme Markets, readers can donate to the Camp Out online. Simply click on AcmeMarkets.com (linked here). There, you can make a donation, which will be shared with the team on day one.

Those wishing to give a little more can also contribute to the 16^th annual Lt. Patty Simons/Law Enforcement Food Drive in Montgomery County. Working through the and the drive represents one of the largest in the region.

Named for the active and vocal member of the committee which formed the drive, the annual event is designed to honor her legacy while providing for a “cause that was dear to her heart,” according to GNPAL Director Brett Wells.

For a full list of participating drop-off locations for 2011, visit here. We've also posted a list as a pdf file at right. Contributions will be picked up on Dec. 20, with distribution scheduled for Dec. 21.

If you are still in need for a few easy ways to lend a helping hand to those in need for Thanksgiving, 6ABC is also there to help. The 6ABC and Boy Scout Holiday Food Drive is well underway. Chances are a white plastic shopping bag has been left at your doorstep or attached to your porch.  Area residents are asked to place canned items and nonperishable, boxed items into the bag. Simply place the donations in the bag, and put it outside your door by 8 a.m. on the morning of Nov. 19.

Local Boy Scout troops will be around to collect the bags. Donations will benefit Philadabundance. For more information on this 21^st annual drive, visit the 6ABC website. There, users can donate cash online, add a donation to an Acmemarkets.com order or even just "Like" the Dunkin' Donuts Facebook page to give to the local community.

As you can see, there are number of ways to give in the communities in which we live. As you shop for your usual Thanksgiving Day grocery needs, keep in mind those that may not be as fortunate, and pick up a few extra items.