Embracing Thanksgiving at AFS: Join Us for Gratitude and Giving!
- Elyse Minchen
- Nov 21, 2023
- 2 min read
With Thanksgiving less than a week away it’s time to scramble for recipes and all things hosting but traditionally it is also a time to slow down, think about what’s important to us, and express gratitude for our loved ones. To do so this year at AFS, we have two exciting events going on: our first 5k “Turkey Trot” and our annual Giving Tuesday!
5K “Turkey Trot”: A Celebration of “Thanks Living”
Whether you’re a runner, walker, or just want to come and hang out at the farm with some yummy food from Counter Culture, it isn't too late to sign up for AFS’s first 5k and “Thanks Living” Celebration! Open to all, you will be able to take a tour of the 95+ acre sanctuary, meet the 215 residents who call it home, and spend time with a caring community. If you are not able to make it this year, you can still donate to the farm’s mission and support the care of current, and rescue of future residents on the sign up page. Event details for the 5k “Turkey Trot” are on our events page.
Giving Tuesday: Make a Difference, Choose Your Team!
Giving Tuesday is our biggest fundraiser of the year and is coming up in just a week from November 27-29th. Giving Tuesday ensures that all residents can get the medical care they need in 2024 to live out healthy lives. These medical funds enable us to give Miss Piggy the chemo treatments she needs to treat her skin cancer, nurture Galactus as he recovered from heat stroke this summer, and so much more. Our goal this year is to raise $35,000. To be a part of this essential initiative, you can donate to Team Roosters, Team Pigs, Team Goat’eam, or Team Moo or join a team and fundraise with our staff, volunteers, and wonderful community!
Meet “Our” Turkey, Casper
Casper’s story is a bit unclear, but not uncommon. The AFS team was on a rescue mission to pick up Lucy (the pig) who was at risk of being slaughtered in Victoria, TX. The day before the team headed towards Victoria, they got a call from someone in a similar area that found over a dozen chickens abandoned in a field, along with one turkey, Casper. Why they were dumped is unclear, but Casper was added to the rescue route, and the rest is history. He’s a very big boy as he’s the type of domesticated turkey specifically raised and killed for food, not the typical “heritage” breed we see that are brown. He can be sassy (particularly towards our co-founder, Chris) but also has a soft side and can often be found getting pats from volunteers or even sitting in someone’s lap. When you join us for the 5k “Turkey Trot” you will have the opportunity to meet Casper along with all of the other residents.
Recipe of the Month: Tofu “Ham”
If you’re looking for a savory vegan entree look no further. This is by far the best tofu I’ve had and I will personally be enjoying it this Thanksgiving (although it’s good any time)! The recipe and instructions are easy to follow and can be found here.
I enjoyed reading about Thanksgiving at the sanctuary because it focused on gratitude, compassion, and caring for animals. The message felt warm and encouraging, especially during a season that often revolves around reflection. It reminded me of volunteering at community events and appreciating simple acts of kindness. During that period, I wanted help with python assignment while managing coursework. The post highlights the value of empathy and connection.
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I really like your post about embracing Thanksgiving at AFS with the Turkey Trot and Giving Tuesday. It is wonderful to see a community come together to support rescued animals like Casper. I have been helping my local animal shelter with their fundraising events while trying to finish my own research project. My dissertation was stuck until a friend told me about online dissertation help that offered simple and clear guidance. That support helped me finish my work on time. Now I still have time to volunteer at the shelter and help with their Giving Tuesday campaign. That balance has made my life so much easier without any extra stress.
I really liked the message in this post because Thanksgiving at a sanctuary feels more meaningful when it focuses on kindness and compassion toward animals. During my university years, I remember reading similar community stories when life felt stressful, especially during semesters when I even used an Essay Writing Service once to handle assignment pressure and manage my time better. Posts like this remind people that gratitude is not only about celebration, but also about caring for others and giving back in simple ways.
The Thanksgiving reflections at the sanctuary were heartfelt, especially the emphasis on compassion and gratitude toward animals. It reminded me of visiting a local rescue farm during the holidays and realizing how meaningful those experiences can be. Around that same time, I searched for Online Law Class Help because balancing responsibilities was becoming stressful. Posts like this encourage people to think more deeply about kindness and mindful living.