Maine Camps and the Thanksgiving Spirit of Giving Back

Each Thanksgiving is an opportunity to reconnect with family, to celebrate our relationships and our express our gratitude. And between the happy reunions and the incredible food – from turkey and stuffing to delicious pies and sweets – Thanksgiving really does resemble the reunions of campers and camp families each summer. However, one of the most magical aspects of Thanksgiving – and one that we at Maine Camp Experience (MCE) feel very strongly about – is the emphasis on gratitude and giving back that goes hand and hand with this holiday. Around Thanksgiving, many individuals, families, and communities will rally together by volunteering and participating in food drives to help those in need. Whether it’s an individual or family, a small business or a pro sports team, people contribute each Thanksgiving by packaging and serving meals, providing Turkeys and other holiday favorites to families in need. And while Black Friday and Cyber Monday certainly get their share of attention, Giving Tuesday – which falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year – is a day dedicated to holiday giving, and over 40,000 charitable organizations and non-profits will be participating in the event this year. We are always proud that many MCE families, campers, and alumni contribute to this charitable spirit – and the emphasis on volunteering and giving back is something that MCE camps practice each summer. Many campers’ first experiences with volunteering, and first lessons in social responsibility, are facilitated by charitable events run during the summer or during the year at MCE camps – such as swim-a-thons, toy drives, food drives, programs to assist the elderly, and much more. Many camps have always engaged camps in social action initiatives, and you can learn more about this connection here. And to celebrate this Thanksgiving season, Maine Camp Experience is giving back with our Thanks-GIVING Away Event! We will be making donations to charities that are near to our heart – World of Change and Camp Sunshine – and giving away great prizes to MCE families, including a grand prize of $5,000 towards tuition at a 2018 MCE camp! Make sure you sign up by December 6^th! We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year – and we hope you’ll embrace the holiday spirit and join MCE and MCE families around the world by contributing and giving back to those in need.