Thanksgiving is nearly three weeks away, but it’s likely that most of you are already making plans with friends and family, figuring out what and how much food to buy and working out the little details that go with planning a holiday feast.
    For most people Thanksgiving is a fun and exciting time while others find the stresses of holiday planning to be overwhelming. That’s why it’s sometimes easy to forget about those neighbors who don’t have friends and family to surround them during the holidays, or those people who can’t afford a warm meal on turkey day.
    A number of organizations in the Kennebunks and Arundel have not forgotten about those community members in need and are encouraging more fortunate residents to get involved in the effort.
    The Holiday Food Baskets program is asking for monetary and food donations for both Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets. They also need volunteers to help with packaging and delivery of the baskets. Volunteers will be packing and delivering baskets on Nov. 19 and Dec. 21 at the Masonic Hall on Main Street in Kennebunk. Donations will be accepted at the same location on Nov. 17 and Dec. 21.
    Project Pilgrim is another organization that’s trying to make the holiday a little brighter. They are hosting their ninth annual complimentary Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 22 at St. Martha’s Parish on Rte. One in Kennebunk from noon to 1:30 p.m. Reservations are not needed, so for those who are alone, this sounds like the perfect place to be. Holidays can be depressing for anyone, even those with large families to share them with, but if you don’t have anyone to be with on the holidays the days can be especially dark. For more information about this event call 967-1911.
    Look through the Post from now until Christmas and you will see many announcements about holiday, dinners, food baskets and toy drives. Your respective town halls might also be able to help in finding a place to go for the holidays, or ways to help neighbors in need.