On Thanksgiving, many celebrate the holiday eating lavish dinners with their families. However there are numerous opportunities for Clevelanders to get out and celebrate with the whole city.
Putting the “giving” in Thanksgiving, multiple food drives, pantries and kitchens will be open across the Greater Cleveland area. Catholic Charities, a subordinate nonprofit organization of the Diocese of Cleveland, is looking for volunteers to assist in their charity across the county. In particular they are looking for delivery drivers, cooks and servers for multiple of its open church Thanksgivings on Nov. 28, especially at the St. Augustine Hunger Center.
Thanksgiving Heros is looking for volunteers to cook and deliver items to their Westlake distribution center. Staff will then drive out to homes and give meals to those in need. Sign-ups will be required for prospective volunteers so pay attention to opening and closing dates.
On Thanksgiving Day, Cleveland’s 43rd Annual Turkey Trot will take place, starting at Cleveland Public Hall. Runners check in at 8:45 a.m, and spectators are welcome. The course will take trotters down St. Clair Avenue. then down to 113th Street with the race finishing on a long stretch of Ontario Street The race has several smaller courses within this larger circuit, making one mile, three mile and five mile tracks. The event is free through this year’s sponsor, Onyx Health Club, and there are an expected 9,000 runners attending.
For a turkey bowl with a twist, the Cleveland Crusaders, Cleveland’s semi-professional rugby team, is hosting its annual “Turkey Touch Rugby.” This is an event that helps teach people more about the sport and brings the community together.The Turkey Touch Rugby will be held on Friday, Nov. 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Edgewater Park downtown.
There are many events open to the public before, both during and after Thanksgiving Day. Whether giving to those in need, or working off that one’s dinner through running, rugby or enjoying a musical break from a busy world, there are options for those looking to get out of the home to celebrate.
