CAN you help people in Boston this Thanksgiving? YES!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. It's a time to share what you are thankful for-- your family, friends, a roof over your shoulder, clothes on your back & the simplicities of life. Thanksgiving is also a time to give back & show others you care. There are plenty of ways to help people in Boston this November.

One way to donate canned goods at Boston University as part of the Great BU Can-Off this week. There are several drop off locations all throughout the BU campus, right in the heart of Boston. Help the campus reach their goal of 1,000 cans for those in need this holiday season! (Personally, as an active member of the Community Service Center, I recommend donating the cans to the Community Service Center on the 4th floor of the George Sherman Union at 775 Commonwealth Ave. It is a competition after all--:)-- but any of the locations at BU will do.) Helping others is all that matters.

Boston Can Share is an annual food drive sponsored by Mayor Menino, the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Hunger, FedEx and The Greater Boston Food Bank. Now in its 24th year, the Boston Can Share pairs with office suites & business through the city as drop off locations for people to donate canned foods during the month of November. At the end of November, the donated food collected by the Boston Can Share is transported by Fedex to the Greater Boston Food Bank, which serves as a distribution center to nearly 100 food pantries, emergency meal programs & shelters in Boston. During November, donate:

• Proteins such as canned tuna fish, salmon, chicken, turkey, beef stew, canned nuts, peanut butter & canned meats
• Canned beans and peas
• Canned fruits and vegetables, juices & dried fruits w/ no added sugar
• Milk either evaporated or powdered
• Pasta, oatmeal, & canned soups
• Non-perishable food
• Dry packaging & canned foods

The Food Bank is unable to distribute baby food, baby formula or food in class containers collected through food drives.

Need a pie for Thanksgiving? Purchase your Thanksgiving pies through Community Serving's Pie in the Sky. This Thanksgiving, buy a delicious apple, pecan, pumpkin or sweet potato pie & pick it up Wed, November 24 (the day before Thanksgiving) at 45 locations in the Greater Boston area. For $25, the cost of a single pie, Community Servings will be able to provide a week's worth of free, home-delivered meals to a man, woman or child who is battling a critical illness such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes or MS. Here is the order form for the yummy pies.

On Thanksgiving Day, you can participate in the Boston Volvo 5K Road Race in support of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. By participating in the Volvo 5K Road Race provides help through education, support, advocacy & research funded by the National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter. This makes a huge difference to the 19,000 people and their families in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont-- and the 400,000 people nationwide-- who must live with MS every day of their lives. You can register before November 22 for $20 or register on-site of the race at Boston Volvo, 75 North Beacon St., Brighton, MA. There will be prizes for the top finishers.

Another way to help include inviting someone who doesn't have a place to go this Thanksgiving or can't afford to have Thanksgiving with their family who lives far away, to your Thanksgiving table. The more, the merrier! :)

Do you know of any other ways to help this Thanksgiving?

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Light the Night Walk

One of my best friends, Carolina, whom I met my freshman year of college, has been through a lot. In her junior year of high school, Carolina lost her father to a long battle of leukemia. While I was worrying about the college application process, prom and other mundane things in high school, Carolina was moving schools to be able to be closer to her hospitalized father, helping take care of her little brother during a tough transition and dealing with a loss of a very special person in her life. Carolina and her family's world was turned up-slide down by leukemia. Even though I never met her father, from the stories and pictures, I know he was a great man who loved and cared for his family more than anything in the world.

In memory of Robert Ciccia (Carolina's father), Carolina, Carolina's brother, a few friends and myself participated in the Light the Night Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at Boston Common last year. For the 2009 walk, we were able to raise close to $800 dollars in support of the foundation, which is dedicated to funding blood cancer research and improving the lives of patients and their families who are affected by blood cancer. The event was a lot of fun. We had a banner with our team name, we received t-shirts, a balloon with a glow stick insert and free food. It was cold, but we were warmed knowing we were helping families whose lives had been touched by leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. We knew walking Light The Night walk wouldn't bring Robert back, but we knew by raising funds and walking in support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, we were helping support families, cancer research and towards the development of a cure.

Next week, Carolina, Carolina's brother and I, along with a few friends, will be participating in the Light the Night Walk again. This year we have already raised over $2,000. Most of our fundraising stemmed from Robert and Carolina hosting a social event and her little brother, Nano, selling teddy bears to his classmates at school. Our goal is to reach $2,500 dollars and we couldn't be more close. I can't wait to be back at Boston Common, walking side by side friends, all coming together for a great cause.

October 14 is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk around Boston Common. I encourage you to register, join an existing team, create your own team, or make a donation in support of all families whose lives have been affected by cancer.

To donate to Team Ciccia, visit Team Ciccia's donation page.

To create your own team or register for Light the Night walk, visit here.

Your support would mean more than you know.


The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Mission Video...

About the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society:
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. LLS's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since the first funding in 1954, LLS has awarded more than $680 million in research funding.