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Thanksgiving — as it’s celebrated today — is a time of reflection, gratitude, and togetherness. It’s an opportunity to slow down and appreciate the big and small blessings in our lives.

Of course, the story the U.S. has long told about the origin of Thanksgiving is a lie, but that doesn’t mean we can’t rethink and reclaim what this holiday means.

In today’s Goodnewsletter, we’ll be celebrating some good Thanksgiving-related (and some not!) news. We hope it sparks some hopeful dinner table conversation, or just renews a sense of gratitude within yourself.

🎁 Hope, progress, and people making the world better: That’s something to be thankful for

All year long, we hear from people who are grateful to read headlines about what’s going *right* in the world — instead of only the bad stuff.

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People doing good

‘Dollar Tree Dinners’ creator invents and donates ‘Thanksgiving in a Box’ kits for families in need

Rebecca Chobat is the face of Dollar Tree Dinners, a social media channel dedicated to helping people make nutritious and tasty meals using ingredients from stores like Dollar Tree and Dollar General.

Building on her “meal in a bag” inventions for people affected by SNAP cuts, Chobat created “Thanksgiving in a Box” kits, which include printed recipe cards and all the ingredients for traditional Thanksgiving dishes like green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, and more.

Chobat herself donated 12 full dinner boxes, eight casserole kits, and eight single-serve holiday meals to people in her community — and her comments were filled with others “copying” her idea.

Why is this good news? Families across the United States are stretched financially, making Thanksgiving a heavier lift this year. Research shows that the average Thanksgiving meal is approximately 10% more expensive this year, and many Americans plan to cut back on festivities.

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More Good Thanksgiving News

​U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez donated 1,600 Thanksgiving turkeys to hungry families in the Bronx. Ocasio-Cortez hosts a turkey distribution annually, feeding families and workers in need around the holiday. Last year, her team gave away over 1,000 turkeys, which was double that of the year before.

​An award-winning chef is celebrating Native American cuisine in his new cookbook. James Beard-winning chef Sean Sherman’s cookbook “Turtle Island” pushes readers to view food systems through an Indigenous lens.

​After SNAP benefits were cut off, livestreamers came together to ensure homeless families were fed this Thanksgiving. From November 1 through November 27, the Grateful Streams campaign aimed to raise $15,000 to support Union Station Homeless Services as they serve individuals experiencing homelessness this holiday season.

​For the ninth year in a row, a Nashville cafe served 1,000 free Thanksgiving meals. Kathy Leslie, owner of Shugga Hi Bakery & Cafe, told the local news, “So listen, this is the truth: people are hurting. … So we just need to do the best that we can to be kind, loving, and generous to somebody.”

​A first-of-its-kind “turkey tracker” outlines the environmental impact of your Thanksgiving feast, with tips to reduce emissions. In the U.S., 46 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving alone, with the average turkey weighing over 30 pounds and shipped over 1,500 miles.

​Animal sanctuaries are letting people adopt a turkey for Thanksgiving instead of eating them. This alternative version of Thanksgiving lets families “adopt” turkeys and donate money to their lifelong care and receive photos, certificates, and sometimes even one-on-one visits with the birds in return.

More Good News

​Two chefs left prestigious culinary jobs to cook at nursing homes and “make this industry better.” Wanting to “break the stereotype that aged care food is just a lump of food on a plate,” the chefs meet a variety of dietary needs and provide a continental breakfast, a hearty lunch, a generous dinner selection, and desserts.

​To restore trust in government, a Belgian town opened a lottery that elects 30 random citizens to power. And it’s working, with the assembly helping introduce positive changes related to housing, education, and mental health — it even inspired a similar system in Paris.

​At the world’s first “disabled dog park,” wheelchair-using pups get their “driver’s license.” The 7-acre park includes a race track and skate rink for dogs in wheelchairs — where dogs can also pass their “learner driver’s test” after being outfitted with their wheelchairs — a cafe, and fixtures like stables and small houses for shy friends to hide out.

Food

No, you can’t donate Thanksgiving leftovers — but there are other ways to keep that turkey and corn from ending up at the bottom of a trash can

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Good Quote

Whether you’re looking for words to share at your Thanksgiving gathering or simply seeking a moment of reflection, here are some more inspiring Thanksgiving quotes.

More Good bits

👏 No more surviving the holidays, we’re thriving.

🥣 These brands are on the food justice nice list. (TikTok)

🍳 Earth-conscious chefs: Rethink your preferred cooking method.​

❤️ Gratitude is life-saving.

🦃 To help you prepare for the inevitable dinner table activity.

💬 An accidental text is now a ten-year running tradition.​

💯 Let’s all reaffirm our commitment to celebrating Native American Heritage Month all year long.​

What’s good?

Probably the most controversial question we’ll ask all year...