With Thanksgiving two days away, everyone spends days scrambling around trying to figure out the “important” things about the holiday, asking questions like, “Whose cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year? (Because I don’t want to cook and clean on a holiday)”, or, “Who is making the pumpkin pie? (I hope it’s not Aunt Selma, she can’t cook for her life)”, or, “What size turkey should we buy? (because after all, Uncle Dave eats like a pig)”. Ah yes, the holidays. But I ask you, are these the most important questions of the holiday?

What about questions like, “I wonder if the homeless man I see every day sitting on the steps of the Montague and Court Street train station will have a place to eat Thanksgiving dinner?” Or maybe a thought like, “Since I don’t have anything to do until I have Thanksgiving dinner at 5:00pm, I wonder if I can volunteer at a nearby church or synagogue to serve Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless?” or maybe a question like, “Turkeys are on sale for 39 cents a pound. Should I pick up two and donate one to a family that is less fortunate than I am?” Isn’t that what the holiday season is all about?

Look, I’m the last one who should be saying this. My friends, family and girlfriend all know that the way to my heart is through my stomach. So when it comes to turkey day, pass me the stuffing. But this year, I have been doing a lot of thinking. I have a lot to be thankful for. Many blessings have been bestowed upon me and I realize that there are people less fortunate than I am. People who are in need of some blessings of their own, and although I am not an angel, I can perform blessings of my own by helping someone out who needs it. I can’t give someone a thousand dollars (because I could use it myself) but, I can give a homeless man who has spent a cold day on the street asking for small change a hot cup of coffee, or help serve mashed potatoes at a church before I eat, or donate some canned food to a shelter. You know, homelessness is a big problem in this city. It takes over someone’s life like a disease – but it’s a curable disease.

Let me ask you a question, I bet if you go home and look in your closet where you keep your food, you would find a can of something – anything – that you have never used and that has been there since the beginning of time. A can of soup, ravioli, green beans, cream corn, something. If each of us took that one can – which we all have – and brought it to a homeless shelter to feed the hungry this Thanksgiving, we would all enjoy our meals a little more knowing that someone who hasn’t eaten a decent meal in months is now, thanks to us.

I want to wish each and every one of you a happy Thanksgiving. I hope that before you enjoy your meal, you will take what I’ve said to heart and help someone enjoy his or hers. May I remind you that there is a word hidden inside of the name of the holiday – and that word is giving.