Happy Thanksgiving! What are your holiday plans? We are going to cook a nice meal for the kids and enjoy our time together at home. I wish I could see my parents for this holiday season, but right now that’s not a good idea because of the pandemic. I do, however, plan on connecting with them by phone or video chat.

Happy Thanksgiving!

GIFT GUIDE COMING SOON!

I’m so excited because for the first time since launching Good Life Detroit in 2016 I am going to feature a Detroit gift guide! I have been wanting to do this for some time and this year I am finally able to create a gift list for you. The gift guide will feature a few of my favorite places my family and I love to eat or shop at. Stay tuned for that!

AMERICA’S THANKSGIVING PARADE IN DETROIT

We’re sad that we can’t see Detroit’s Thanksgiving parade in person this year, but we’re looking forward to watching it on TV at home. This year’s parade is a televised-only event to help keep each other safe. According to the Parade Company, America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner-White format is designed to capture the imaginations of millions watching from home and will not have spectators.”

The Parade Company team also created a heartfelt theme for the 2020 Thanksgiving parade: We Are One Together. It’s a tribute to the frontline workers and heroes of the COVID-19 health crisis. LOVE IT! Click here to get all of the details you need about the Thanksgiving parade.

Detroit Thanksgiving Parade
Photo courtesy Jennifer Hamra for Good Life Detroit

LOCAL METRO DETROIT SCHOOL PROVIDES 10 FAMILIES WITH THANKSGIVING DINNER

The staff at Academy of Warren provided 10 families with Thanksgiving dinner meal kits. For the food drive, staff members were encouraged to donate items such as bottled water, canned soups, fruits and vegetables, boxed meal kits, as well as holiday items such as cranberry sauce. Food vendor Diamond Hospitality, a restaurant management business located in Southfield, also donated turkeys and other perishable items for the food drive. Families also picked up food from Gleaners Mobile Pantry.

“It’s the time of year where many of us feel as though we should give a little extra for those who do not
have as much,” said Oronde Kearney, the chief academic officer of Academy of Warren. “I am proud of our
school and partners for providing Thanksgiving dinner to families in need.”

Academy of Warren Thanksgiving
Photo courtesy of Academy of Warren

SHOP SMALL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. If you plan on doing any holiday shopping this coming weekend, please remember to stop by small businesses in Detroit and the metro area.

There are some wonderful local businesses that have unique gift ideas, such as All Things Marketplace, Little High Flyers, and Mama Coo’s Boutique. Check out my post on how to shop safely at small Detroit businesses for helpful shopping tips during the pandemic.

GIVING TUESDAY IS NEXT WEEK!

Mark your calendar for Giving Tuesday! The annual, global event is on Tuesday, December 1st this year. It’s a great campaign designed to encourage people to give back to their community and nonprofit organizations. To participate, all you have to do is select one or more organizations that you would like to support. It can be the local animal shelter, an after-school program, or a community-based ministry.

Arts and Scraps Showtime Showdown
Photo courtesy Arts and Scraps

This year for Giving Tuesday, I am going to participate in a fundraising event at Arts and Scraps in Detroit. We love Arts and Scraps and take the kids there often to get some of our homeschool supplies. The event is called Shopping Showdown, a version of Supermarket Sweep. Contestants have a short time limit to grab as many goodies as they can in the Arts and Scraps store.

I’m excited to be a contestant and find art supplies for the kids! I’ll share a blog post next week to recap how the event went. In the meantime, make sure you visit Arts and Scraps’ official website to learn more about the great community work they do in Detroit!

Hope you have a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday! xoxo


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Written by

Jennifer Hamra

Freelance creative Jennifer Hamra created her blog Good Life Detroit in 2015 after relocating from Tennessee to Southeast Michigan.

Inspired by her love for personal blogging and photography, Jennifer likes to share her favorite Detroit things, from cool places to visit (the hidden gems are her favorite!) to the amazing people she has connected with over the years.

When she's not busy juggling family life and her creative projects, you can find her at an art gallery, community event, farmers market, or spending quiet time at home with a good book and cup of tea.

Jennifer lives in the metro Detroit area with her husband Travis and their six children.

Connect with Jennifer on social media @goodlifedetroit on all social media platforms or via email at [email protected].