The spirit of giving is alive and well in Sanders County.

With Thanksgiving here this week and Christmas on the near horizon, giving, largely in the neighbor helping neighbor tradition that is Montana, steps forward this Wednesday to kick off the Holiday season.

First on the list is the Hot Springs Senior Center, which will host a community Thanksgiving dinner this Wednesday (Nov 22) beginning at noon at the center. A Thanksgiving meal will be available for seniors for just $5, and $6 for the general public.

The Hot Springs Senior Center is located at 101 Main Street.

Plains area residents who seek a Thanksgiving Day meal can stop by the Church on the Move, 300 Clayton Street, Plains, for a community style meal this Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. The meal, which will be served in the church’s Soup Kitchen dining area, will also feature the traditional Thanksgiving fare.

Also, the American Legion Club in Paradise will be serving a Thanksgiving potluck style meal beginning at 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. The Legion club is located along Highway 200 in Paradise.

Donations are welcome at all of these events.

And once the dinner has digested, local merchants will be on display along the Plains Greenway in the form of Small Business Saturday. Come and support local small businesses such as the 406 Outlet and Colleen’s Country Store (10a-4p); Plains Drug Store (9a-4p); Studs Lumber (9a-5p); Garden Gift (10a-4p); Posh Hippy (noon to 6 p.m.); Wild Horse Mercantile (10a-5p); Wild Plains Nursery and Store (10a-6p); Llano Movie Theater (doors open at 12:30 p.m. for a showing of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”); Mountain West Clothing (10a-3p); Gambles (8a-530p); Mangy Moose (9a-5p); and, Little Bitterroot Outlet and Thrift Story (9a-4:45p)

There will also be a bonfire from 4-6 near the Greenway along Railroad Avenue, followed by the annual Cancer Network of Sanders County’s lighted balloon release fundraiser, which will also be held this year at the Greenway, beginning at 6 p.m.