One way for us to get in the spirit of Thanksgiving is to review what we are thankful for. This can be a challenge during this trying time, especially when the world looks bleak and the Thanksgiving we are used to may not be possible.  But being thankful and showing gratitude is something we can work towards not only because that’s what we should do at this time of year but gratitude can actually help us to be happier.

I am thankful for my family, my husband, my kids, my extended family and our friends.  I have grown to cherish my phone calls with family since we can’t safely get together.  We have learned to communicate through technology, something I am thankful for every day!  We love the idea of sitting around the dinner table on Thanksgiving and saying something that you’re grateful for. We do this every year!  Right now, we can be doing it daily to remind ourselves how lucky we are and to put us in a better mood.
       – Sarah Poletto, Co-Executive Director, The Blue Rose Foundation

The CDC has outlined considerations when preparing to host or attend an event like Thanksgiving celebration which you can find here and an additional good Holiday Resource can be found here.

“Some people in this country are going to be able to have a relatively normal type of a Thanksgiving, but in other areas of the country, it’s going to be, ‘You better hold off and maybe just have immediate family, and make sure you do it in a way that people wear masks, and you don’t have large crowds of people,'” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a recent interview with CNN. In fact, Dr. Fauci, himself, is having a virtual celebration with his adult children.

The safest way to celebrate

• Have a Thanksgiving dinner with members of your own household.
• Have a virtual celebration.
• Shop online for food and supplies.
• Watch parades, sporting events and movies at home.

Moderate Risk Activities

Once you determine that your area and family are safe and you are going to host a gathering with people outside of your household, determine what is the best location, duration and number of people to invite. Here is a link to the CDC post about holiday celebrations and small gatherings. 

The CDC points out that gatherings with “more preventive measures in place such as mask wearing, social distancing, and hand washing, pose less risk than gatherings where fewer or no preventative measures are being implemented.”

• If you do choose to host indoor gatherings, make sure to have good ventilation and keep it to a shorter period of time. 
• Limit the number of guests – the more you people increases the risk of exposure.
• Attending small outdoor sports events with safety precautions in place
• Small outdoor gatherings with local friends or family
  • Lower your risk by following CDC’s recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs.

High Risk Activities

The CDC advises folks to void these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:

• Going shopping in crowded stores just before, on, or after Thanksgiving
• Participating or being a spectator at a crowded race
• Attending crowded parades
• Attending large indoor gatherings with people from outside of your household
• Using alcohol or drugs that may alter judgment and make it more difficult to practice COVID-19 safety measures

As a reminder, the CDC guidance is meant to supplement but not replace any state, local, territorial, or tribal health or safety laws or rules. Also, make sure to gauge the current Covid-19 levels in your community to figure out the best course of action for your celebration.

Remember to thoroughly clean high touch surfaces before and after you guests have left.

It is with gratitude that The Blue Rose Foundation wishes you a wonderful, safe, and healthy Thanksgiving celebration. 

And in the spirit of gratitude, don’t forget #Giving Tuesday is coming up…

This year, The Blue Rose Foundation is participating in #GivingTuesday, a fundraising day for Non Profits that helps to jump start the giving season. GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.  To learn more about #GivingTuesday, please visit their website at: https://www.givingtuesday.org/

Give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity…

#GivingTuesday is about more than just raising money. It’s about doing good in your community. Increase awareness about worthy causes. Spread kindness and other forms of generosity and community spirit. We hope you will join us in spreading the word of #GivingTuesday and donating if you can.