Feast, be thankful and share.

by Lisa Gansky
11/19/10 11:05 PM
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Thanksgiving is about expressing gratitude and appreciation to our loved ones. It’s about celebrating friendship and cherishing memories. It’s a day that embodies the spirit of sharing. And as the holiday draws near, there couldn’t be a better time to start embracing The Mesh.

This year, we challenge you to celebrate in a new way, to revalue what is important and give rich experiences, instead of just more stuff. The Mesh Community Directory offers countless ways to get meshy during the holidays. Here are some of our favorite ideas to get you started:

Turkey drives. Help families in need enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner by participating in one of the many turkey drives in the U.S. and Canada. The Food Bank for New York City, for example, takes the traditional drive to a whole new level by hosting an annual Virtual Turkey Drive. They’ll create a personalized website for you to raise funds for purchasing yummy gobbers. Very meshy.

Holiday clothing drives. For the fashionistas among us, take a peek at your forgotten favorites and donate your gently-used clothing items to a drive near you. (Remember, sharing is the new pink.) Many holiday clothing drives run through November and December.

Pop-up shops. Pop-up shops have gained popularity for giving local entrepreneurs an opportunity to set up shop for short periods of time, typically over the holidays. Supporting temporary retailers like Flurry, Crafty Wonderland and Downtown Artistry in Portland, Oregon means believing in space as a shared resource. It’s good for the retailer and the planet, too.

You can find all of the organizations referenced here, and many more, in the new directory category called “In Time for the Holidays.” If you’d like to see your organization there, be sure to sign up at www.meshing.it and create a company profile.

We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving and holiday season!