As the nation pauses to celebrate Thanksgiving today, we remember there is much for which to be thankful.

Many of us can be thankful for the really important things in life — family and friends, good health, adequate food and shelter, a purpose that keeps us going.

Most people also can be thankful for other things that mean a lot to us or help us with our life, like a job, a vehicle, skills or talents, a pet, and so on.

So when we sit down to Thanksgiving dinner today, many of us will give thanks for these many blessings. But let us also remember the “giving” part of Thanksgiving.

Those of us who have plentiful amounts of our needs and wants are called to share them with others who have not been so fortunate. Here in Suffolk, another thing we can be thankful for is that there are so many people willing to do so.

Every year, there are multiple events designed to help the less fortunate in Suffolk experience the bountiful spread of food on Thanksgiving that many associate with the holiday.

This year, LeOtis Williams once again gave out turkeys and fixings for the 15th year to thousands of local residents on Saturday.

Suffolk United, a new organization, joined with many local churches to collect food and hand it out on Saturday.

Suffolk Christian Fellowship Center and El Korita Restaurante welcomed the community last Sunday for a feast.

The Rose and Womble Realty Turkey Brigade returned earlier this week with its 26th annual event to hand out 3,031 turkeys and more than 98,000 pounds of other food.

Saquan Branch and his new It’s Time for a Change Foundation opened the doors of the Union Hall on East Washington Street on Monday and served a holiday meal.

In addition to these happenings, many other organizations and individuals helped families in ways big and small leading up to the holiday.

Some of these events have been happening for years or even decades, while this is the first year for others. But they all have one thing in common — at the root of them all is a love for the community.

So as you give thanks today, make sure you contemplate how you can put into action both thanks and giving all year round.