By CARLA SANDERS
THE SIGNS ARE EVERYWHERE.
USC and UCLA; Packers, Patriots and Panthers; Texans and Titans; Chargers and Chiefs; Giants and Jaguars; Dallas and Denver. On and on.
Football season is in full swing, and there are plenty of opportunities to gather with friends and family for that age-old tradition, the football party.
But this year, in keeping with the spirit of change offered by our two presidential candidates, and with the twin mantras of putting country first and helping out in your community, there’s a new way to score big on game day.
Representatives from organizations across the Inland Empire offer a diverse array of options for a benevolent approach to pigskin parties.
While all ideas may not be for everyone, each offers a way to give back — and have a great time in the process.
And you never know: That good karma emanating from your good deed just might make its way to your favorite team for a winning season.
Here are some ideas:
Double your pleasure:
Have guests bring two of everything: one pie for the party, one to give away; hot wings for the party, hot wings to give away. You get the idea. Then donate the food to your local homeless shelter.
Sing, sing a song:
Got a favorite team jingle or fight song? Before the game, gather the gang, dust off those vocal chords and visit a local senior center or hospital ward to entertain for 30 minutes or so. The endorphins will be flowing so much from all that laughter over the off-key notes you might not mind it so much when your team is down 21-0.
Ladle up:
Before you start noshing at the party house, gather as a group and help out at a soup kitchen or mission.
Book ’em:
Ask guests to bring a new or gently used book to the party. These can be donated to your local library or perhaps a family shelter. It’s amazing how a book can change a life.
Give of yourself:
Later on, your team will leave its sweat (and some blood) on the field. First, though, go as a group to a local blood bank and do your part in the blood effort. You’ll have a great reason for eating all those snacks later.
Stocking shelves:
Have everyone who comes to your game-day party bring a can or two of food to be donated to a local community food pantry. You’ll appreciate what you have that much more.
Kid stuff:
As the holidays near, have party-goers bring an unwrapped toy, which can be donated to any of the numerous toy drives held around the Inland Empire each year. Children all over will thank you.
