Though Washington, D.C. is best known for its place as the capital of the United States, there are other facets to be explored that are worth learning about. When we think of the capital, we think of law makers and politicians. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it might be a good time to think of things like how to help feed the homeless on Thanksgiving in Washington, D.C.. We often don't even think of the homeless as we go about our busy lives. When we do, it might only be to think that we will never end up in that situation. The fact is that they never planned to end there either. Thanksgiving is the perfect time for us to give thanks that we aren't living on the streets. What better way to do that than to help those that are? There are several ways to do this. It doesn't take much effort, time or money. So, for now, just have a seat and read through the steps here to learn how you can help these unfortunate people.

Many of us are struggling during this financial crisis. Sometimes when we are struggling and we think of charity, we may think we have nothing left to give. We couldn't be further from the truth. The fact is that we all have plenty to give in our own ways. Review the list below to get an idea of resources that you may have to offer to help the homeless have a decent Thanksgiving dinner.

• Time: Whether is a large amount or a small amount you may have some spare time to offer. Do you have time to drop off a can of beans at the homeless shelter? Is it possible for you to volunteer some time to help disperse foods on Thanksgiving day?
• Food: Do you have some food you can donate to a shelter or food pantry? They don't ask for much. Can you spare a loaf of bread or a can of green beans? If you are thinking about how to manage difficult relatives on Thanksgiving, why not offer some food to someone who will actually appreciate it?
• Money: Do you have any money you can spare for someone in need? If you think you don't why not just clean out the couch and donate spare change? You may think this won't make a difference, but every little bit truly does help and you know that.

• Donate home made pies to a food pantry.

• Talk with you children about ideas they may have.

• Do a family food drive.

There are many ways to go about helping the homeless on Thanksgiving. You may even have a skill that may be useful in a shelter, like knowing how to carve a turkey. Whatever the case may be, now you need to find a place to go to actually take the resources you chose to use. You can do this by contacting some local shelters, food banks, churches, police stations, schools and even hospitals. Below are a few shelters that can be found in the Washington, D.C. area.

• Luther Place Night Shelter

• Federal City Shelter

• Calvary Shelter

• Hannah House Shelter

• Mount Vernon Place Shelter

Now that you have a found a place to aim your charity at, it's time to actually do what you plan to do. Make your donation or prepare to give your time. Use the tips below to maximize your experience potential.

• If you are donating time to a shelter, dress appropriately. There's no need to dress up as you may be doing a job that can get messy or may be covered in an apron. At any rate, it wouldn't be nice to flaunt a fancy wardrobe in the face of those who are struggling simple to make it to a place that is helping them to have Thanksgiving dinner.
• If you donate cash, don't forget to get a receipt so that you can claim the donation on your taxes later if you wish.
• Encourage your friends and family to help out, but don't boast about what you are doing. This is the time for giving, but true giving does not need to be bragged upon.
• If you donate food, donate things that are not outdated. In other words, donate things that you yourself would eat.

This video is a visual display of the distrust of the homeless in Washington, D.C. Though they may have medical problems, they will not seek out medical treatment. Dr. Anthony Martinez makes his rounds on the streets seeking to those who need it. Though there is medical treatment available to them, the homeless often ignore their health problems due to their own issues and distrust of doctors.