Six ways to engage your community during this season of giving

Last Updated on November 6, 2022, 8:18 AM | Published: November 6, 2022

OKLAHOMA CITY — The holiday season is about more than just last-minute shopping, decorations, and desperately hoping that no one brings up politics at your family dinner.

Regardless of your religious leanings or your lack thereof, the last, waning months of the calendar are a time for reflection, for appreciation of what you’ve had throughout the year, and for generosity toward those that maybe didn’t have as much.

In OKC, November means holiday shops, year-end meetups, and early sunsets for perfect after-dark drinks, but it also means loads of great opportunities to get into the giving spirit with volunteering, donating, and participating in the city’s community, even long after polls close on Election Day.

Homeless Alliance – Clayton’s Turkey Tango Meal Prep – November 21st

First and foremost, OKC’s indispensable Homeless Alliance is gearing up for their busiest time of the year, not only in terms of the number of people they’ll see coming for meals and utilizing the shelter’s many resources, but also in the number of volunteers looking to lend a hand.

Unsurprisingly – and reassuringly – many of the late-November and December volunteer slots for meal help at the HA’s Westtown Day Shelter are already full, but there is still a very important event that needs volunteers.

The Homeless Alliance’s annual Turkey Tango event collects nearly 100 donated turkeys from Butterball and combines them with gourmet sides from some of the best chefs and restaurants in the city for a truly special public meal on the day before Thanksgiving. This year, the event was officially renamed Clayton’s Turkey Tango after its co-founder and local food-and-wine legend Clayton Bahr following a tragic cancer diagnosis.

The Alliance is still looking for nearly 30 volunteers for Monday, November 21st to help cook, dress, and carve all those Butterballs ahead of the big meal, so if you’re wanting to help feed some of the best and most grateful members of the community this season, that’s your chance.

For more info, visit homelessalliance.org/get-involved.

Coffee & Cars w/ Toys for Tots – Chisholm Creek – November 5th & December 3rd 

On the first Saturday of every month, car lovers gather at the Chisholm Creek shopping center at Memorial and Western to enjoy some coffee and appreciate some great and awesome autos.

It’s always free and friendly, but this month and next, they’re using the ever-popular event to collect toys and donations for the Marine Corps’ always wonderful Toys for Tots program, providing toys for families in need during the holidays.

Bring your hot rod if you have one and bring a toy or two to donate if you can, but most importantly, bring your own inner child that still wants to hang supercar posters in your bedroom.

For more info, follow Coffee & Cars at facebook.com/coffeeandcarsokc.

Fall Night Market – Scissortail Park – November 11th

Nothing says “the holidays” like a classic, outdoor night market of pop-up stalls and strung lights.

If you want your gift-giving to give back to the community at the same time, then there’s nothing better than hitting Scissortail Park’s Fall Night Market, featuring all-local, small-business shops offering art, gifts, decorations, and more.

Throw in a little live music, plenty of food and drink options, and (hopefully) an appropriate chill in the air, and you’ve got the perfect way to kick off the shopping season far removed from the stress and crowds of the malls.

For more info, visit scissortailpark.org/fallholidaymarket.

36th Annual Peace Festival – Embassy Suites NW Expressway – November 19th 

Finally returning to OKC after two years cancelled due to COVID concerns, the Peace Festival is the brainchild of The Peace House, an OKC community center focused on raising education and awareness of human rights, civil rights, environmental issues, and non-violence.

For the first time, Peace Festival will be welcoming guests to Embassy Suites on NW Expressway, where more than 50 tables will be offering everything from books to fair-trade coffee to pottery to hand-made goods and items, all helping to support local artisans and sellers.

With live music, a children’s activity area, and up to 1,000 people expected to attend, this is likely to be one of the most fun and community-conscious ways to shop for the holidays.

For more info, follow The Peace House at facebook.com/peacehouseokc.

Art After 5 – Oklahoma City Museum of Art – November 17th 

With all the stress of shopping, cooking, and preparing to shop and cook all season long, you’ll want to set aside some time to relax and enjoy some food, drinks, and calm to cool your jets.

Why not toss in the best skyline views and some of the finest fine art the city has to offer while you’re at it?

OKCMOA is celebrating their monthly Art After 5 event for November by inviting Bar Arbolada and their massively acclaimed burgers onto the building’s recently renovated rooftop terrace.

With the museum currently chock-full of new and stunning exhibitions on every floor, including “Chihuly: Then and Now,” “Selections from the Rose Family Glass Collection,” and the sprawling, remarkable “Abbas Kiarostami: Beyond the Frame,” there is guaranteed to be some art for everyone alongside the burgers and drinks.

For more info, visit okcmoa.com.

OKC Free Press 6th Anniversary Party – Lively Beerworks – November 10th 

What better way to support the community than by celebrating six years of independent journalism in the city?

We’ll be marking the occasion with our friends at Lively Beerworks with giveaways, announcements, and even a special autumnal brew named for us.

Come out and meet all of our writers and reporters and let us know what you like to see, what you’d like to see more of, and what keeps you coming back to Free Press for your Oklahoma City news.

For more info, follow Lively Beerworks at facebook.com/livelybeerworks and make sure you’re following us at facebook.com/oklahomacityfreepress and @freepressokc on Instagram and Twitter.

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