Give Something that Means Something this "Black Friday"--and stay safe!

Thanksgiving week is filled with traditions.  Of course, the biggest is the family feast we're all looking forward to tomorrow.  Then, after the food coma wears off, many people will be heading out to do a little holiday shopping.  But as we saw here in Buffalo last year, the stores aren't always the safest place to be on "Black Friday"!

Photo courtesy monacome.com

If you'd like to avoid being run over by the Black Friday madness, stay home and "Give Something that Means Something" instead!  Visit the Red Cross Holiday Giving Catalog online and make a donation in honor of the loved ones on your list this year.  You can give a variety of symbolic gifts that support the Red Cross mission, such as blankets, a full day in an emergency shelter for disaster victims, phone cards for our military men and women, or vaccinations that can save lives around the world.

A recent Red Cross poll showed that four in five Americans said they'd rather receive a charitable donation in their honor than more "stuff" they'll never use.  When you shop the Holiday Giving Catalog, your loved ones will receive a free greeting card, letting them know that this generous donation has been made in their honor, and they'll be satisfied in knowing that they're helping their neighbors in need this holiday season.  And you can stay home, warm and comfy in your jammies, instead of fighting the Black Friday stampedes!

Turkey Day Travel

As the name clearly implies, Thanksgiving is a time to pause and give thanks for all the blessings we have in life.  However, it's not always a time to relax!  The Buffalo News has listed some of the seemingly endless things to do this holiday week, which for many of us includes travelling to see family.  As the article points out, the Wednesday and Sunday of Thanksgiving week are two of the busiest days on the NYS Thruway each year.

Photo courtesy Albany Times-Union

If you're one of the many thousands hitting the road this holiday, make sure you pack up an emergency kit for your car along with the clothes and other essentials.  If you don't know what to include in your emergency kit, check out Denise Herkey-Jarosch on WGRZ-Channel 2's "The Healthy Zone" for some tips on what to get and where to get it.

It's also important that you know what to do in case of an emergency. To report an emergency along the Thruway, call 911 or 1-800-847-8929.  For up-to-date information, go to www.thruway.ny.gov or www.511ny.org. TRANSalerts are free notices sent via e-mail or text messaging to inform motorists of incidents that may affect their travel on the Thruway. Register at http://www.thruway.ny.gov/tas/index.html. NY Alert-free notices sent via e-mail or text messaging regarding a variety of emergency notices such as weather alert.  To learn more visit www.nyalert.gov .

Of course, the Thruway isn't the only place that will be packed this week.  We'll have some tips on how to avoid the "Black Friday" shopping crowds later in the week!