By: Warren Shiu, Staff Writer

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many in our community are preparing for family dinners and holiday celebrations. However, for some that are less fortunate, it may be harder to fully enjoy the festivities. In Millbrae, there are many opportunities to give back through numerous local organizations dedicated to helping those in need. Whether through sorting food, packing meals, or assisting at a community event, there are several ways to help make Thanksgiving a little brighter for our neighbors.

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, located at 1511 Rollins Road in Burlingame, has tons of opportunities available to local volunteers. This particular food bank services the counties of Santa Clara and San Mateo, which is able to assist many families close by. On Thanksgiving, Second Harvest coordinates food drives and is in need of volunteers to sort and pack food. There are also opportunities to join outreach efforts that ensure nutritional meals are made possible for those in need during the holiday season. This is a great way for students to give back to families in their very own community, knowing their time is helping to provide a hot meal to someone close by. Second Harvest is in close proximity to Millbrae and thereby offers convenience for those wanting to make a difference.

In our sister city of San Mateo, there is another local avenue for volunteer involvement: the Samaritan House at 4031 Pacific Boulevard. This organization offers its services to people and families within San Mateo County. It specializes in food, shelter, and medical assistance, among other basic services. The Thanksgiving programs of this organization are particularly effective, as holiday meals are provided to those experiencing financial hardship. Volunteers at the Samaritan House will be called upon for food preparation, meal distribution, and other areas including holiday food drives. It’s a perfect way to help make others’ Thanksgivings that much more special while being an option for students looking to volunteer close to home.

While not located directly in Millbrae, the SF-Marin Food Bank is highly impactful for all surrounding communities. The food bank serves both San Francisco and Marin counties, serving millions of meals each year to families in need. For Thanksgiving, volunteers are needed to sort food donations and package meals for distribution. Because the SF-Marin Food Bank has such large-scale efforts, the food bank would love the help of lots of volunteers. While based in San Francisco, the food bank’s reach and volunteer opportunities offer any student a chance to participate in a regional effort to help our neighbors.

These three organizations-Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Samaritan House, and the SF-Marin Food Bank-offer meaningful opportunities for anyone to give back to their community this Thanksgiving. Whether packing food, sorting donations, or preparing meals, volunteer work is a way to help make sure that everyone has access to a holiday meal. The work done for these organizations not only is an important way of giving back but also provides a forum to connect with the community where one lives and to make a lasting impact. These programs give reason to act on and help those in most need of it, right here in our backyard, as we reflect on the season of gratitude.