Thankful Thursday - Give Back and Feel GREAT!

Photo credit to www.values.com

You know how it goes. You sit down, flick on the TV, and within 2.5 seconds it's like the TV is literally trying to jam Christmas down your throat. The loud commercials screaming about all the sales, sending you running from store to store for this gift or that. It becomes so easy to forget what the holidays - whether Christmas or otherwise - is supposed to be about.

Which made it an easy decision for me to turn Thankful Thursdays in a whole new direction. From now until Christmas, I will feature a charity I love every Thursday as a reminder that giving back can be the best kind of giving during the holidays!

Todays feature - an organization close to my heart for all the help and hope they gave my cousin when he was diagnosed and undergoing treatment - The Maine Children's Cancer Program (MCCP). Located in Scarborough, Maine, the Maine Children's Cancer Program is a part of Maine Medical Center and focuses on providing treatment to children diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders. Besides providing some of the most comprehensive treatment options, MCCP also has an amazing research program, is a part of the Children's Oncology Group, the premiere childhood cancer research organization, and works with the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center to provide inpatient care so children can get the care they need closer to home.

The Maine Children's Cancer Program has so many ways that you can give back. During the holidays, businesses have the opportunity to adopt a family with a child undergoing treatment to help give them the Christmas they cannot afford on their own. Each child makes a small wish list, and the business that adopts their family purchases the gifts, wraps them and prepares them for pick up by the MCCP staff. The staff at MCCP work diligently to match up families in need with the right business depending on how much the business can take on or spend. It's a great way to give back and an excellent way to get your business name out there in a very positive way! For more information about family wishlist adoption for the holidays, call the MCCP office at (207) 396-7565.

If you are looking to donate individually, you can visit MCCP's donation page and make a tax deductable donation that will go towards future cancer research and treatments that are making such a huge difference in so many lives.

If you would rather give your time, visit MCCP's Events page for a list of fundraising or MCCP hosted events that you may volunteer at. Whether it's a minute, an hour or a whole days worth of your time that you can give, I can guarantee that you won't be able to walk away from your volunteer experience with the MCCP without a huge smile on your face.

It's so easy to make a HUGE difference in someone else's life. This holiday season, remember those who may be less fortunate and be grateful enough for all you have to give back just a little.

What charities or volunteer organizations bring a smile to your face?

~KG