Thanksgiving is a special holiday for people all across America.
However, what should be a special time can be filled with stress and anxiety if you are not in a good financial position.
Luckily, as the holidays come closer, more exclusive assistance opportunities are available to help!
You just need to know where to start.
It is important to keep in mind that available programs vary by area.
Although the following programs may not be available in your area, there could be alternatives.
Thanksgiving Assistance Programs
Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks.
That is why many people look to give back to their community as a way to show gratitude and appreciation!
Some popular Thanksgiving assistance programs include:
- Salvation Army Thanksgiving Assistance
- Free Food from Local Food Pantries
- Help from Local Support Organizations
- Exclusive Thanksgiving Saving Opportunities
Salvation Army Thanksgiving Assistance
Many people know the Salvation Army as a great thrift store to shop at.
However, this organization is also a great source of help to those in need.
Two popular Thanksgiving programs that the Salvation Army offers are:
- Food for the Needy
- Bill Pay Assistance
Food for the Needy
A hot meal on Thanksgiving is what many people look forward to on Thanksgiving.
However, those dealing with financial hardship may not be able to get one.
Luckily, the Salvation Army offers meals and comfort on Thanksgiving.
Typically, the food is provided to people on a first come, first served basis until they are all out!
We know we are going to sound like a broken record but it’s important to remember that the specifics depend on the area!
That means your local Salvation Army may have a specific approach to their Thanksgiving food assistance.
Bill Pay Assistance
People who deal with such financial hardship may not even care about food on Thanksgiving.
Instead, their focus is on making sure that their lights stay on and their bills are paid.
That is why the Salvation Army may also offer bill pay assistance to help with bills like:
- Rent
- Mortgage
- Medicine
- Utilities
- Food
- Clothing
- Public Transportation (Bus Passes)
The Salvation Army is a great source of assistance.
If you want to see if any of these benefit programs are available in your area, you should first find your local Salvation Army.
Get in touch to see what may be available for people in your area.
When signing up to be a recipient of these programs, you may need to provide personal information like proof of residency, proof of income, etc.
Free Food from a Local Food Pantry
Besides the Salvation Army, there are other organizations that aim to help people get a free meal on Thanksgiving.
Your local food pantry will likely have some sort of free offering whether it be a frozen turkey, a nice cooked meal, etc.
Not only can food pantries provide you with some free support, but they may also be able to provide information.
Food pantries can be a great place to learn more about other assistance programs in your area.
They are an information hub that aims to help people get on the right path.
When speaking to your local food pantries, you will want to get in touch with someone like a counselor to discuss more information.
Help From Local Support Organizations
There are plenty of local resources available to different communities across the country.
One opportunity in particular are supportive organizations.
These organizations can provide support to those in need in their community.
While every local opportunity is different, generally there will be some food assistance on Thanksgiving Day.
You can expect these organizations to be set up similarly to the Salvation Army regarding how meals are handed out.
Besides food, local supportive organizations may even offer other assistance like gift programs, financial help, and more.
If you are interested in more information, check out some local support organizations in your area and get in touch with someone from one of them!
They can provide you information and even more resources that could help your current situation.
Exclusive Thanksgiving Saving Opportunities
While there are plenty of programs available, there are also Thanksgiving-saving opportunities out there that can help!
This time of year is all about being thankful, so grocery stores may offer coupons or vouchers to help customers in need get free foods like turkey, canned goods, etc.
There are plenty of stores that offer free turkeys during the holiday season.
You should be on the lookout for special promotions at your area’s grocery stores.
While it may not be a program that provides benefits, it may be able to still help you save money!
On top of that, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving.
Black Friday is a retail holiday full of savings opportunities.
Some stores even have Black Friday deals online! Furthermore, the Monday following Thanksgiving is known as Cyber Monday.
This is another retail holiday full of savings for consumers to benefit from.
Regardless, Thanksgiving and the days after can be full of sales that could result in hundreds or more in savings!
Bottom Line
There are plenty of different special assistance options available around Thanksgiving.
Some places where you could see support on Thanksgiving includes:
- Salvation Army Thanksgiving Assistance
- Free Food from Local Food Pantries
- Help from Local Support Organizations
- Meals on Wheels
These opportunities may not be available everywhere so you need to see what options are in your area.
Besides programs, there may also be savings opportunities provided by your local grocery store or other retailers.
You should talk to the manager of the store to see if there are any special holiday promotions.
The holidays should be a time to enjoy those around you.
They should not be held back by stress from financial hardship.
You may be surprised at just how much help you can get during Thanksgiving!
