If the distance between you and your loved ones is throwing off your gratitude-game this Thanksgiving, here are some ideas that will effectively show your appreciation without having to be face-to-face or putting you in the awkward position of fighting the urge to hug.

Make a homemade card or write a personal letter to send to your loved ones. Your friends will appreciate the manual labor you put into it as opposed to a “Happy Thanksgiving” text or Bitmoji, and your elderly recipients will hang it on their fridge and brag about how “creative” you are. Pinterest has great ideas for homemade cards, but of course the classic hand turkey is always a solid option. 

Acknowledging that this year has affected each person differently by donating any extra clothes or food is a very real way to show your gratitude for what you have. Check out the Tualatin Food Pantry and the Tigard-Tualatin Caring Closet to help support and donate.

Thinking of all the work your teachers have put into distance learning thus far? Maybe send them a virtual Thanksgiving ecard or Thanksgiving image from Pinterest to their email—and keep it school appropriate of course! A simple email message or short video of you saying “Thank you” will also do the job, especially since they don’t hear your voice enough through Google Meets.

Particularly grateful for your health and you’re 16 years of age or more? Donate blood to The American Red Cross Organization to see if you test positive for COVID-19 antibodies and help others fighting COVID-19. The American Red Cross website can help you book an appointment at a blood drive near you and has more specifics on eligibility requirements.

No matter how you choose to show your gratitude this year, as long as it’s safe, the people in your life, or strangers in your community, will be thankful for your kind gesture in return.