I have something to be grateful for: my family and our health.  Most of us have at least one thing to be grateful for.  So, this Thanksgiving, why not give thanks and pay it forward?

For some, finding an opportunity to give back may seem daunting – like a major project to determine how to help, who to help, where to go to provide a lending hand, etc.  But it doesn’t have to be a monumental effort. 

All that matters is that you give back to your loved ones or your community and all efforts – great and small – count.  It doesn’t matter how miniscule the act of kindness may seem to you – to the recipient, it could be an enormous weight lifted off their shoulders.

For example, consider saving an elderly neighbor a trip to the store by picking up their groceries for them. Or, simply hold the door open for someone else, garner a smile with a few kind words or lend a shoulder to cry on. 

Greater chances to help your community are out there too.  While they may not always seem so obvious, they’re not as hard to find as you may think.  Here are a few websites to help you identify ways to show your community and our world that you care. 

Volunteermatch.org: Online non-profit organization database that enables you to search for volunteer opportunities by location and interest (kids, seniors, art & culture, etc.)  It also provides resources to learn more about certain charitable organizations and types of volunteerism. 

Allforgood.org: All for Good makes it simple to find ways to do good by helping people connect with service activities in their communities. The site brings together service opportunities from local and national organizations to help you find volunteer activities that fit your time and interests.  It features more than 150,000 listings a month.

Serve.gov: This website is part of President Obama’s United We Serve initiative which helps meet growing social needs that resulted from the economic downturn.  Serve.gov helps you find and create volunteer opportunities in your neighborhood.

Another idea, if you are looking to exercise your body as well as your heart, is to participate in a Turkey trot or memorial race where proceeds benefit a charity or scholarship program.  To find such races, scan Active.com and Compuscore.com. 

Remember, it’s not that act itself that counts, it’s the thought behind it that matters most.  If you help someone, you thought enough to make a difference and that is a great way to show your gratitude this holiday season.

photo credit: muffintinmom via photopin cc