Okay, so maybe everyone’s not ready to think about holiday shopping just yet, per my post yesterday. (I’m actually not ready myself, but thought I’d help out those proactive folks who are.) But certainly Thanksgiving is the next traditional holiday. But what about the folks who are going to go hungry? What about the folks who go hungry every day?

Never fear, Oxfam is here with a suggestion:

Chances are you’ll be sitting down to a large meal this Thanksgiving. Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy. Maybe you’ll finish it all off with a slice of pie. Millions of Americans will celebrate the same way. This year, why not make your Thanksgiving tradition even more special by helping the world remember those whose stomachs aren’t full?

On November 15th, the Thursday before Thanksgiving, join with thousands of Oxfam supporters and skip one meal to remember the more than 850 million people who go hungry every day.

Sign the pledge to skip a meal and stand with those who go hungry.

Please join us in this simple act. If you’d like to do even more, post this bulletin on your MySpace page, and ask them to skip a meal with you.

Skipping a meal the week before Thanksgiving is a tradition that Oxfam began 34 years ago as a way for Americans to connect with people in the US and throughout the world. It’s an act of simple gratitude for what we have, and a recommitment to continue our work to make poverty history.

Skip a meal on November 15 to show your solidarity with those for whom hunger is a daily reality.

This Thanksgiving season, give thanks—as we will here at Oxfam—for the millions of lives that have been saved this year by the profound generosity of so many who care. And for the very real chance we all have to end poverty.

Thank you for all your work in the fight against poverty, hunger, and injustice.

Sincerely,

Tim Fullerton
Oxfam America

— Emmily