SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Thanksgiving is a time to come together with friends and family, taking stock of things one is grateful for. For some, the holiday is also a time for people to give back to their community through volunteering — opportunities San Diego is in no shortage of. From serving meals to cleaning up beaches, there are plenty of ways for people to make a difference this holiday season. Here are a few options for those looking to get involved. Thanksgiving travel in SoCal expected to hit record high: What to expect Serving meals Feeding San Diego Help package and deliver food for low-income San Diegans with the local food pantry, Feeding San Diego. The nonprofit offers volunteer opportunities year-round, but for those who want to take time around the Thanksgiving holiday to give back, there are a few options available. Over the next two weeks, there are plenty of opportunities to both sort and distribute food, including a Thanksgiving basket event on Thursday, Nov. 21. Date: Varies Where: Varies Sign-up: https://volunteer.feedingsandiego.org/?view=calendar BLISS Care Foundation Volunteer to help deliver delicious Thanksgiving meals to housebound low-income seniors through the BLISS Care Foundation's annual BLISS-full Thanksgiving Luncheon. Each volunteer will help to prep and package the Thanksgiving meals, as well as care packages, that will then be delivered to seniors throughout El Cajon. Date: Saturday, Nov. 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: 1283 E Main St. STE 101, El Cajon, CA 92101 Sign-up: https://www.blisscarefoundation.org/get-involved/volunteer/ The Salvation Army Spend time working at one of The Salvation Army's pantries for food insecure San Diegans this holiday season — one of the many opportunities to give back through the international organization's local branch. Plenty of spots are still available to help distribute food throughout the week of Thanksgiving at its downtown and El Cajon locations. The Chula Vista site also has food pantry volunteer opportunities, although those are booked full until early December. Date: Varies Where: Varies Sign-up: https://sandiego.salvationarmy.org/san_diego2/volunteer-with-us#Free-Text-Area-8 Thanksgiving in San Diego: Where to find free Thanksgiving meals 2024 Other volunteer options North County Turkey Trot Spend some time on Thanksgiving helping out with the North County Turkey Trot, the annual 5k which raises funds for the nonprofit Active Kids Alliance. Volunteers help hand out medals and water, pick up trash, and help to set up and take down the event. An added bonus: each volunteer gets a free sandwich voucher from Ike's. Date: Thursday, Nov. 28 from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. (different shifts available) Where: 4S Ranch Boys and Girls Club Sign-up: https://www.handsonsandiego.org/opportunity/a0CQQ000029gfa12AA/help-out-north-county-turkey-trot San Diego Humane Society Assist staff at the San Diego Humane Society with one of their volunteer opportunities. The nonprofit shelter has a number of options for people looking to get involved at each of their campuses across the county, from being a guide for visitors to animal care. Volunteer opportunities are year-round, but the holidays are the perfect time to start getting involved. Date: Varies Where: Varies Sign-up: https://www.sdhumane.org/support-us/volunteer/companion-animals.html Tree lightings to see in San Diego County Surfrider of San Diego County Spend some time ahead of the holiday to help clean up our beaches with Surfrider of San Diego County, one of the region's preeminent environmental advocacy nonprofits. The weekend prior to Thanksgiving, Surfrider has two beach cleanups on the calendar — Tamarack Beach and Pacific Beach. Date: Saturday, Nov. 23 Where: Tamarack State Beach in Carlsbad; Pacific Beach Sign-up: https://sandiego.surfrider.org/volunteer Know of any volunteer opportunities this Thanksgiving? Email [email protected] to get it added to this list.