On Thursday, we will all be giving thanks for the many blessings in our lives. But while we enjoy our turkey dinners, surrounded at the table with family and friends, it's important to remember that there are many in South Florida who are less fortunate and can use some extra assistance this holiday season.
With the holiday season in mind, now is a great time to give back to the community and those in need!
Below, youāll find a list of organizations in need of volunteers and donations to help the less fortunate this Thanksgiving season.
Miami Rescue Mission: In need of volunteers, financial and food donations, click here.
Feeding South Florida: Always looking for food donations for the less fortunate, click here.
Camillus House: Accepting financial donations, click here.
HandsOn Broward: In need of volunteers for their Thanksgiving Day event, click here.
Broward Outreach Centers: Accepting financial donations, click here.
And while you're out and about this Thanksgiving Day and weekend, it's important to know what facilities and businesses will be open for the holiday, Black Friday and so on.
Below is a breakdown of what's open, what's closed by county:
Broward County
- Government/Schools
- Federal, state, county and municipal offices closed Thursday and Friday
- Public schools, colleges and universities closed Thursday and Friday
- Services
- Banks and post offices closed Thursday
- The New York Stock Exchange will be closed Thursday
- There will be no regular mail delivery Thursday
- No garbage, bulk, or recycling collections Thursday
- Regularly scheduled collections will resume Friday
- Entertainment
- All branches of the Broward County Library will close at 6 p.m. Wednesday and remain closed Thursday and Friday
- Broward County regional and neighborhood parks, nature centers and natural areas will be open with the exception of Deerfield Island Park, which will be closed per normal operating schedule
- Transportation
- Tri-Rail will operate on a weekend schedule
- Broward County Transit will operate a Sunday schedule Thursday and a regular schedule Friday
- Shopping
- Publix will be closed on Thursday; Winn Dixie grocery stores will be open until 4 p.m. on Thursday.
- Individual store hours may vary:
- Coral Ridge Mall: 6 p.m.-midnight Thursday, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday
- Coral Square Mall, 6 p.m. Thursdayā1 a.m. Friday, and 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday
- Festival Flea Market Mall, Pompano Beach: Closed Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.. Friday
- The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale: Closed Thursday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridaty
- Sawgrass Mills: 10 a.m.āmidnight Thursday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday
- Pembroke Lakes Mall: 6 p.m.āmidnight Thursday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday
- Westfield Broward (Broward Mall): 6 p.m.ā midnight
Miami-Dade County
- Government/Schools
- Federal, state, county and municipal offices closed Thursday and Friday
- Public schools, colleges and universities closed Thursday and Friday
- Services
- Banks and post offices closed Thursday
- The New York Stock Exchange will be closed Thursday
- There will be garbage collection as regularly scheduled
- Entertainment
- The county library system will be closed Thursday and Friday
- Miami-Dade regional and neighborhood parks, nature centers and natural areas will be open
- Transportation
- Tri-Rail will operate on a weekend schedule
- Metrobus, Metrorail and Metromover will follow a Sunday schedule
- Shopping
- Publix will be closed Thursday
- Winn Dixie grocery stores will be open until 4 p.m. Thursday
- Individual store hours may vary:
- Aventura Mall: Closed Thursday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.. Friday
- Bal Harbour Shops: Closed Thursday
- Dadeland Mall: 6 p.m.- midnight Thursday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday
- Dolphin Mall: 10 a.m.āmidnight Thursday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday
- The Falls: 6 p.m. Thursday ā 1 a.m. Friday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday
- Lincoln Road Mall: 10 a.m.ā11 p.m.
- The Shops at Sunset Place: 10 a.m.ā9 p.m.
- Westland Mall: 6 p.m.āmidnight Thursday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday