Let’s just finally admit it: no one likes Thanksgiving as much as they do the December holiday season. The festivities aren’t as extravagant, the setting isn’t as jolly, there are absolutely no good Thanksgiving songs, I can’t even think of a Thanksgiving movie, and no one celebrates Thanksgiving Eve.

Editor’s Note: How dare you forget about Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) starring John Candy and Steve Martin.

Or maybe I’m just the equivalent of a Thanksgiving “Scrooge” (see, the holiday doesn’t even have its own classic tale to reference).

An opportunity to show thanks

However, despite the holiday’s lack of fanfare, there are still thousands of people in the world telling you not to put up the tree or blast Mariah Carey until after the turkey has had its day. And while admittedly my Christmas decor and Santa mug have been out of storage since the first of November (with a last name like mine, can you truly blame me?), I can’t entirely disagree with the sentiment.

Because while Thanksgiving is certainly no Christmas, at its core, it is an opportunity for all of us to be grateful for what we have and extend that gratitude toward others and our communities. For credit unions, this means the commitment to sharing that gratitude with staff, members, and the community alike. They are and should be at the heart of all credit unions do.

All too often though, the festivities, giving, and support that are provided throughout December are found to a much lesser degree in November, if found at all. Perhaps the holiday spirit hasn’t quite hit yet or perhaps many just agree that Thanksgiving doesn’t merit the same pomp and circumstance as its December counterpart.

Whatever the reason, your credit union should not let Thanksgiving sneak by with just a nice social media graphic that says the standard, “Happy Thanksgiving, our branches are closed,” or even worse, use the holiday as a sales opportunity. Don’t wait until the holiday of thanks is over to start giving back and showing thanks. Even small measures can have a huge impact, so how can you get started?

Lift the grocery burden

The key to a great Thanksgiving—aside from a general attitude of gratitude, of course—is good food. For many, providing a meal for their family and guests (or even just a good meal for themselves) is easier said than done, however. While inflation has certainly slowed and has even reached a three-year low, food prices are still creating financial strain for many.

Credit unions have ample means to make a difference this Thanksgiving by hosting food drives and gathering donations for members or even those in the community. If your credit union is unable to host the event itself, it can make food or monetary donations to food banks or even to its members directly. Or, if you’re looking for something even simpler, gift cards to the local grocery stores will not only support these businesses but allow your members to grab their holiday favorites or whatever they might be short on.

Don’t forget: your members might not be the only ones struggling financially. Your staff is not exempt from financial hardship and the pressure of rising costs, and should absolutely not be left out. In fact, a WTW survey from July of this year found that 88% of employees are struggling to meet basic daily living costs. Consider how you can alleviate this burden for your staff even a little during the holidays, whether it be a little extra in their paycheck or a grocery store gift card like the ones mentioned above.

Provide time with loved ones

This one might go against every fiber of your credit union’s being, especially when your members might be out spending left and right come Black Friday, but consider closing your physical branches on Friday to allow your staff a long weekend to travel to see loved ones or even just to get an extra day of rest. Many credit unions are opting to go this route as it’s an easy-to-provide perk for the whole team.

If you’re hesitant to do so, it’s important to remember that the majority of spending on Friday will be digital transactions (around 70%) and so your members will most likely be curled up at home with a blanket and a laptop rather than shopping out and about and looking to swing into a branch. And for those few that are, their digital banking app, ATMs, and ITMs should be enough to sustain them for one day.

If this is simply not possible for your credit union for one reason or another, try to offer something special for those team members missing out on potential family time to come in. Bring in some pastries and let the staff put in an order for their favorite drink to start the day or offer lunch. If you’re looking for something more practical, a nice financial bonus for those coming in would be a sweet treat as well. Or even close an hour or two early to let them have just a little extra time in their day.

Remember the reason for the season

At a time of the year when we are meant to give back and show thankfulness, don’t let your credit union team, your members, and your community be overlooked. These small displays of gratitude can go a long way and provide much-needed support during a busy and expensive season.

So before craving the turkey, carve out some time to plan how your credit union will give back. And from all of us at CUSO Magazine to you, your staff, your members, and your families, we hope you have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving.

P.s. Don’t forget to start planning your December events as soon as the turkey is done gobbling!