Making blessing bags for homeless people is a nice addition to your Thanksgiving holiday. We all know Thanksgiving should be much more than turkey, football and family close-encounters. An approach based on Christian mindfulness turns the day into a celebration of gratitude and a chance to help others.

Blessing bags can be in your car or your bag (if you take a train or bus around town) all year. When you see a homeless person asking for money, you can ask them if they would like the bag.

Use a see-through container – either a large ZipLock bag or a see-through plastic bag. Then fill it with items to feed and help the homeless, such as:

• Warm socks
• Gloves
• Hat
• Face masks
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Beef jerky
• Trail mix
• Granola bars
• Peanut butter crackers
• Mints
• Lip balm
• A washcloth
• Hand sanitizer
• Single-dose packs of pain reliever
• Band-Aids
• Comb and brush
• Bottled water
• Hand warmers
• Deodorant
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Tampons for women
• Fast food restaurant gift cards
• A few dollars
• A note of blessing (You can buy a pack of blessing notes at Hobby Lobby.)

If you keep a place in your home for blessing bag materials, you can put packages you get at the dentist and other freebies in the bag. Assembling these bags can make a great Thanksgiving activity for kids and other family members.

Other aspects of a mindful Christian Thanksgiving can include:

• Send thank you cards to people who have made your life better this year.
• Create a gratitude pumpkin for your table.
• Spend time writing down your blessings.
• Thank God for answered prayers.