There’s something about Thanksgiving that brings out the compassion in people. Across the nation you see that demonstrated in soup kitchens, holiday baskets delivered to homes, and not-for-profit organizations and churches stepping up to ensure no one goes hungry. Here are some examples we’ve found:

• Bar Louie restaurants have partnered with local shelters and churches in communities where they are located, and plan to provide a full Thanksgiving dining experience for those in need this season. Bar Louie employees, friends, and family members will be volunteering their time to serve at Bar Louie restaurants from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

• Zorro’s Restaurant says it is cooking 100 turkeys for a free Thanksgiving dinner in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area. On Wednesday, Nov. 26, owner Michael Zeidan will open the doors of his Ypsilanti Township restaurant to anyone in the community who wants to come in for a hot turkey dinner between 3 and 6 p.m. This is a Zorro’s tradition dating back to 1990.

• Pillsbury has a new campaign, called Home is Calling, which they say is focused on sending a message of ‘warmth, comfort and security especially now as people everywhere are facing wide-spread economic woes.’ As part of the campaign, Pillsbury is working with Feeding America by donating one pound of food to food banks nationwide every time its new advertisement link is forwarded from the Pillsbury website.

We at The Food Channel commend the thousands of organizations that are prepared to feed those in need. Many communities have annual food drives. Many churches take food baskets to widows, senior citizens and the unemployed, and many kitchens are opened up for those who just want to share a meal. If you have an organization you’d like to recognize, please feel free to leave a comment below.

Even better, seek out an organization in your community and offer to help or make a donation. For more ideas, see these tips, courtesy of Associatedcontent.com.

Tips:

1. Check with your local or regional Food Bank to see if they need volunteers or donations. To find the Food Bank that serves your region, check the Feeding America Food Bank Locator.
2. Call your church or any church in your area to see if they need donations. Catholic Charities, for example, helps people of all faiths and will know which charities are providing either Thanksgiving food boxes or serving up a Thanksgiving dinner. Go to Catholiccharitiesusa.org.
3. The Salvation Army in many areas provides holiday food boxes or can tell you who in your area is providing a similar service.