Thanksgiving in Costa Mesa: Ways to Give Back & Shop Small in Orange County
As a Costa Mesa realtor, I get to help people find a home here, but what makes Costa Mesa feel like home is the community. Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26 this year, and the weekend that follows is one of the best times to give back to the neighborhoods we love.
The need is real. Second Harvest Food Bank estimates that about 387,000 people in Orange County, including more than 112,000 children, are food insecure. Below are the best Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities in Costa Mesa, easy ways to donate, charity Turkey Trots, and where to shop small on Small Business Saturday (November 28).
Thanksgiving Volunteer Opportunities in Costa Mesa
The biggest Thanksgiving need in Costa Mesa is food. These local organizations welcome both volunteers and donations.
Share Ourselves Thanksgiving Food Drive
Share Ourselves, at 1550 Superior Ave. in Costa Mesa, runs a Thanksgiving food drive and a drive-thru meal distribution for local families. This year's distribution is Saturday, November 21, from 9 a.m. to noon. Last year, volunteers packed more than 700 Thanksgiving meal bags.
What to donate:Â boxed stuffing, boxed mashed potatoes, canned green beans, gravy, cranberry sauce, canned pumpkin, canned yams, grocery gift cards, and frozen turkeys, chickens, or hams.
How to help:Â drop off food at the Superior Ave. location, host a food drive at your office or school, or sign up for a weekend volunteer shift. Call (949) 270-2100 to confirm this year's drop-off days. Visit Share Ourselves
Someone Cares Soup Kitchen
Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, at 720 W. 19th St., has fed Costa Mesa neighbors since 1986 and serves about 300 guests a day. Its Thanksgiving meal draws hundreds of people, so it needs volunteers to cook and serve, plus donated turkeys, dinner rolls, and pies. Call (949) 548-8861 early, because holiday shifts fill fast.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County
Second Harvest Food Bank is Orange County's largest food bank, just 15 minutes from Costa Mesa at 8014 Marine Way in Irvine. Individuals, families, and company teams can book a shift sorting and packing food. A cash gift goes furthest, since the food bank buys in bulk. Visit Second Harvest
Project Hope Alliance
Project Hope Alliance, at 1954 Placentia Ave. in Costa Mesa, works to end the cycle of homelessness for kids. In past years it has run Thanksgiving grocery and turkey drives where one completed list feeds one family. Call (949) 722-7863 to see what this year's drive needs.
Charity Turkey Trots in Orange County
Start Thanksgiving morning with a 5K that helps your neighbors. These Orange County Turkey Trots all run Thursday, November 26:
Turkey Trot OC 5K (Tustin), 8:00 a.m.:Â benefits Orange County Rescue Mission and aims to fund about 30,000 meals for hungry and homeless neighbors. Register here
Irvine/Orange County Turkey Trot 5K & 1 Mile (Irvine Valley College), 7:30 and 8:00 a.m.:Â a family-friendly race with a 1-mile option. Register here
Turkey Trot on The Ranch (Rancho Mission Viejo), 8:00 a.m.:Â supports nature education programs at The Reserve. Register here
More Ways to Give Back in Orange County
Donate money. Food banks can stretch a dollar much further than a grocery trip can.
Host a drive. Turn your office, team, HOA, or church into a collection point for food, coats, or toys.
Start your December giving early. Many local nonprofits roll straight from Thanksgiving into toy drives and Adopt-a-Family programs.
Make it a family tradition. Let kids pick groceries for a donation bag, or book a family packing shift. Most sites require an adult with volunteers under 18.
Small Business Saturday in Costa Mesa: Where to Shop Small
Small Business Saturday is November 28, the day after Black Friday. Every dollar you spend with a local, independent business helps pay local wages, sponsor local teams, and keep Costa Mesa's neighborhoods unique. That local character is a big reason people love living here.
Best Places to Shop Small in Costa Mesa
The LAB Anti-Mall:Â home to "Little American Business" for more than 25 years, with boutiques, a record store, a zero-waste refill shop, and shops in Airstream trailers.
The CAMP:Â The LAB's outdoor and wellness-focused neighbor on Bristol Street.
SOCO and The OC Mix:Â a hub of home design, specialty food, and gift shops.
17th Street, the Eastside, and Harbor Blvd.:Â family-run restaurants, bakeries, and neighborhood gift shops.
For more ideas, check out the Travel Costa Mesa holiday shopping guide or search the American Express Shop Small Map for participating businesses near you.
Easy Ways to Support Local Businesses
Buy gift cards from local restaurants and shops.
Leave a five-star review and tag businesses on social media with #ShopSmall and #CostaMesa.
Shop local online. Many Costa Mesa makers sell through their own websites.
Shop and give in one stop. Some local shops collect food or toys over the holiday weekend.
Your Costa Mesa Thanksgiving Giving Checklist
Drop off a Thanksgiving food bag at Share Ourselves before November 21
Book a volunteer shift at Someone Cares or Second Harvest
Sign up for a Thanksgiving morning Turkey Trot
Make a cash gift to a local food bank
Spend Small Business Saturday (November 28) at The LAB, The CAMP, or your favorite neighborhood shop
Leave a glowing review for a local business you love
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I volunteer on Thanksgiving in Costa Mesa? Someone Cares Soup Kitchen serves a Thanksgiving meal and needs cooks and servers. Share Ourselves and Second Harvest Food Bank need help packing food in the days before the holiday.
Where can I donate Thanksgiving food in Costa Mesa? Share Ourselves at 1550 Superior Ave. accepts Thanksgiving food donations ahead of its November 21 distribution. Call (949) 270-2100 for drop-off times.
When is Small Business Saturday 2026? Small Business Saturday is Saturday, November 28, 2026, the day after Black Friday.
Where should I shop small in Costa Mesa? The LAB Anti-Mall, The CAMP, SOCO, and the shops along 17th Street and the Eastside are local favorites.
Happy Thanksgiving from Your Costa Mesa Neighbor
Thanksgiving is about gratitude, and the best way to show it is to share what we have with the neighbors around us. Whether you give an hour, a turkey, or your holiday shopping budget, it all stays right here in Costa Mesa and Orange County.
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