Opportunities Abound: 3 Ways to Give Back Locally This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving week is right around the corner. While Thanksgiving is marketed heavily in the western world as a time to enjoy delicious food, watch the football game, and the Macy’s Day Parade, it’s also a day of gratitude. A time to celebrate family, enjoy the company of loved ones, and remember and give thanks for all of the privileges we have in our lives.
And to keep in perspective that not everyone has the opportunity to experience those same privileges.
But that’s the beauty of community. And why we’re so passionate about not only cultivating and nurturing our own community at Sol Luna Yoga, but giving back to our greater community within Klamath County as well.
For the second consecutive year, Sol Luna Yoga is dedicating the week of Thanksgiving to practicing gratitude and giving back. And we want to use this blog space to share all the details and information you need to know so you can be a part of that giving as well.
And we’re making it as simple as just stepping onto your mat.
But before we dive into all those details and exciting ways to contribute, let’s take a few moments to settle into our hearts and experience gratitude right now.
Grace, Gratitude, and Grounding
Begin either sitting up or lying down, but finding comfort in whichever position you choose.
Allow your eyes to close,
And begin first by taking a nice, deep breath in.
Allow your belly to expand as you inhale,
Contract as you exhale.
And allow your breath to deepen.
Making each inhale a little fuller,
Each exhale a little longer.
Once your breath becomes rhythmic and even,
Bring your hands to your heart center.
Feel the warmth beneath your hands.
Feel your chest rise and fall with each breath.
From the center of your chest, watch as a bright, white orb of light begins to radiate.
Allow this light to radiate and expand around you until it envelops your entire body.
Feel the warmth of this light embrace as it surrounds you.
When you feel ready, bring to mind the face of one person you are grateful for in your life.
Bring their face into view in your mind’s eye and notice the emotions and sensations that arise.
Visualize you embracing this person and allowing your white light to envelop them as well.
Stay here as long as you’d like – feeling the full capacity of warmth & gratitude
Throughout your entire being.
‘Tis the Season for Thanks & Giving at Sol Luna Yoga
Thanksgiving week at Sol Luna Yoga emphasizes the importance of giving back in more ways than one – giving back to yourself, giving back to others, and giving back to your community. So we’ve curated this special week of classes with that in mind. Helping you to not only pour into the cup of others, but remembering to pour back into your own cup as well.
Here’s how you can do all of that, right at Sol Luna Yoga:
Donation Day
Wednesday, November 22nd is Donation Day at Sol Luna Yoga!
What does that mean?
Well, we have four classes offered that day and all are a part of Donation Day.
By attending any of the classes offered on this day, 50% of class costs will automatically be donated to local non-profit organizations. On top of that, you also have the option of bringing in an additional physical or monetary donation which will go directly toward local non-profits. Keep reading for details about our nonprofit partnerships.
Check out the class offerings below to find out when you can participate, simply by stepping onto your mat.
Donation Day Local Non-Profits
Sol Luna Yoga is working specifically with 2 different non-profits within the community. Each organization is unique in its own way, and offers assistance in different ways. We want to share more about each with you so you know exactly how and who you’re helping this Thanksgiving.
Friends of the Children Klamath Basin
Directly from their website: “Friends of the Children–Klamath Basin is a chapter of a nationwide organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through salaried, professional mentoring.”
Let’s talk about generational poverty.
The ‘American dream’ touts the idea that anyone who works hard can pull themselves up by their bootstraps and make it big. Unfortunately, this really isn’t how it works for every person. Maybe this hits close to home, or you know someone whose experience didn’t quite match this “ideal.”
Generational poverty means a child has been raised in poverty – through no fault of their own – and with it, develops a sense of hopelessness and/or belief that this way of life is normal or to be expected.
Can you think of any instance in your life where you believed something was “normal” or “expected” and therefore, it kept you continuing in that pattern or belief system? Until one day you realized, and maybe witnessed, something different, or better, is possible?
You don’t know what you don’t know.
But there are more layers to this as well. And a vicious cycle.
Surely, some of us have experienced survival mode. Where all you are focused on is making sure your most basic needs are met: food, water, shelter, safety. When you are solely focused on survival, there isn’t a lot of room for hope, or dreaming of a better future. And it quite literally affects a person’s development and overall health.
Unfortunately, even in 2023, race continues to be a factor in generational poverty. Why?
Because of policies that keep these communities in this vicious cycle of poverty, like gentrification – where families are quite literally displaced and pushed out of their homes and neighborhoods so shopping centers or corporate offices or car lots can be put in their place.
This all sounds daunting. And honestly, it is. But together, we can do something about it.
Friends of the Children is dedicated to helping children within our community experiencing generational poverty. Through mentorship, professionals work directly with these kids to provide loving support, teaching basic life skills, and empowerment, to help them break the cycle of generational poverty.
They’re also working to support whole families, offering support and guidance for parents as well, doing what they can to support happy, healthy, sustainable growth and thriving.
At Sol Luna Yoga, we are requesting our students purchase a board game and donate it directly to Friends of the Children, with the intention of encouraging fun, healthy, and happy engagement for kids and families.
Check out their website to learn more about the organization and additional ways you can extend your help and support.
Directly from Friends of the Children:
“Friends of the Children is a nonprofit founded in 2000 that impacts generational change by empowering youth who are facing great obstacles. We do this by pairing youth with paid, professional mentors for consistent, year-round support over 12+ years. Mentoring happens in the classroom, in the community, and at our clubhouses in Chiloquin and Klamath Falls, and the results are outstanding: Of program graduates, 93% postpone parenting, 96% remain free from juvenile justice involvement, 93% complete high school with plans for the future. We currently have capacity for 70 youth, and we also support stability for their siblings through the caregiver support of our two-generation mentoring approach. More information is at friendsklamath.org.”
Klamath Lake Counties Food Bank
Klamath Lake Counties Food Bank is a local non-profit helping to feed people in our community. With inflation and rise of food prices, and the current trajectory of the economy, people are struggling just to buy a basic necessity: food.
Directly from the Klamath Lake Counties Food Bank website:
“Reasons for needing food assistance vary. Here are the most common:
Some people are working at low-paying jobs, going from welfare to work, are involved in job training, or going to school to better themselves and become self-reliant.
Seniors living on very low fixed incomes. When they can get $100 worth of groceries each month, they have more money to purchase their medications and pay those higher winter utility bills.
Mentally or physically challenged people living on fixed incomes of less than $1,000 per month.
Individuals who have suffered a temporary crisis such as illness or injury. Some are unemployed, temporarily unemployed, or facing a financial crisis.
Terminally ill people and cancer treatment patients access the Food Bank. With our help, those suffering from a life-altering illness can concentrate on their quality of life, themselves and their loved ones—not about choosing between paying for their medical prescriptions, living expenses and food.”
What’s beautiful is we live in a community where agriculture and locally sourced foods are more accessible than in some other places within the country. So let’s use that to our benefit and support our fellow community members!
At Sol Luna Yoga, we’re asking for non-perishable food donations and monetary donations that will go directly to the food bank. In the studio, we’ll have a safe cash box and a food barrel, and can even take Venmo payments and donate cash from our end, making it super simple for you!
Curious how far your monetary donation goes? Here’s a glimpse into how a small donation can provide a BIG relief:
– $1 can buy 7-10 lbs. of food
– On average, a $10 donation provides roughly 89 lbs. of food
– 99% of your money goes directly to food
*The vehicles used by the food bank, and all other resources have been paid for, and continue to be paid for, with grants. Your donation stays right here and goes toward food and the programs the food bank engages in to support families and individuals in need.
You can check out their website to find out more about additional ways to give back, or to become more involved with the food bank as a whole.
Gratitude Practice
On Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 23rd from 9 – 10:30 AM, Sol Luna Yoga is hosting a Gratitude Practice. This practice will incorporate all the juicy elements of a practice that you love: guided visualization and meditation, embodied flow, breathwork, sound bath, and journaling and reflection time.
This time is dedicated for you to ground into the body, allow space to fully feel and experience your gratitude during this season, and create a healing space connected to community.
Join us and register before spaces fill up!
Small Business Saturday
Support your favorite local yoga studio, and all your other favorite local businesses in town, by participating in Small Business Saturday! At Sol Luna Yoga, we will hold a Radiate-style class on Saturday, November 25th.
This class is perfect for all levels of yogic practice and is a time dedicated to pouring back into your own cup. Bring friends and loved ones along with you and enjoy a time to connect, have fun, and move your bodies in a healthy way!
You can register for this Small Business Saturday class here.
Opportunities Abound for You to Give Back
This coming week, we encourage you to enjoy your families, friends, and loved ones. To remember all that you have and are grateful for. And to give back to those who may not have the same opportunities or privileges as you.
We encourage you to remain in your heart this time of year, and remember at the end of it all, we are all human. We all deserve access to food, and water, and shelter, and safety.
We are all just doing the very best we can.
We love you. We support you. You are never alone.