Thanksgiving Help

Photo courtesy of USDA

Volunteering during the holidays is a surprisingly competitive market. Trudy Six of Mobile Loaves & Fishes said she began preparations for their Thanksgiving feast in July, because at that point she already had potential volunteers asking about signing up. "We don't have to recruit much," she said. "We just have to say, 'This is what we're doing, this is how we're doing it, this is what we need.' And it's always filled."

But there are still needs to be met. Below is a list of ways you can help, if you haven't already.

• Donate to Mobile Loaves & Fishes' holiday feasts. www.donate.mlf.org/feast.

• You can support the Meals on Wheels PALS (Pets Assisting the Lives of Seniors) program, which provides pet food in addition to veterinary care; or donate basic needs or something a little more expensive at www.mealsonwheelsandmore.org/give.

• Operation Turkey still has a budget shortfall this year. Mail checks to Operation Turkey Fund, PO Box 5159, Aus­tin, TX, 78763, or donate online at www.operationturkey.com. With every $100 donation, OT can feed 40 people.

• Every dollar donated to the Capital Area Food Bank provides six meals for hungry Austinites. www.austinfoodbank.org.

If You're in Need of a Thanksgiving Meal:

• Mobile Loaves & Fishes Thanksgiving feast. Wed., Nov. 23, First Baptist Church, 901 Trinity. MLF starts serving at 5:30pm.

• Operation Turkey has a new email address for those in need at meals@operationturkey.com. Otherwise, its volunteers will be Downtown on Thanksgiving seeking out those who haven't had a warm meal on that day.

• HEB's annual feast of sharing. Nov. 24, Palmer Events Center. 900 Barton Springs Rd. 4-8pm.

• Oilcan Harry's, 211 W. Fourth. Opens at 2pm; dinner at 4pm.

• Iron Bear, 121 W. Eighth. Dinner 5-­8pm; bring a side to share.

• Bout Time II, 6607 N. I-­35. Opens at 11am; potluck dinner at 1pm.