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Friendsgiving Ideas for Your Community Association

Volunteers in blue shirts giving away meals for charity outdoors

Instead of a traditional Thanksgiving meal, why not host a Friendsgiving celebration for everyone in the community? A Friendsgiving event provides the perfect opportunity to share good food, have some fun, and show appreciation to the people around you. Read on to learn how to host Friendsgiving in your community and Friendsgiving ideas residents will love.

What is Friendsgiving?

First mentioned online in the late 2000s and later added to the dictionary, Friendsgiving is a more informal version of Thanksgiving shared with friends and held in addition to or instead of a traditional dinner.

Usually organized as a potluck, guests bring dishes, drinks, and desserts for everyone, often mixing signature meals with more creative options, like favorite fast-food items and finger foods. Commonly celebrated before Thanksgiving or with a variety of events throughout November, these casual gatherings allow groups to create new, unique traditions and strengthen bonds.

Celebrating Friendsgiving in a Community Association

If you want to encourage connections in a community association, a Friendsgiving event is the perfect way to do it. Review your governing documents to make sure the celebration you have in mind aligns with community rules then plan:

  • Volunteering needs. If you want to ease your burden, get volunteers to help coordinate events, generate enthusiasm, and ensure guests follow the rules.

  • Budget. Create a realistic budget plan that includes costs for items such as decorations, food, beverages, and event space.

  • Logistics. Try to hold your event two weeks before a holiday to ensure a larger turnout.

  • Promotion. Promote Friendsgiving during community meetings. Create a flier listing the date, time, and location of your event, and post it on your website, social media accounts, and clubhouse bulletin boards.

Related: Event Planning Secrets for a Successful Community Event

5 Fun Friendsgiving Activity Ideas

Friendsgiving can be celebrated in so many different ways. From the familiar feelings of a gathering around the dinner table, to a fun activity that gets people moving, or something that emphasizes Thanksgiving’s themes of giving back and giving thanks, the choice is yours. Here are five Friendsgiving activities that bring communities together. 

A thanksgiving table filled with seasonal foods, warm colors, and family members sitting around it

1. Community Potluck

A potluck meal allows people to connect and delight in their favorite creations. For an enjoyable event:

  • Start scheduling early. It isn’t easy to make plans in November and December. Gauge community interest as early as possible and schedule based on residents' availability.

  • Create a sign-up sheet. Have the association take care of the major items, then put a spreadsheet on your community website or post a sign-up in your clubhouse for sides.

  • Stock up on essentials. Based on expected attendance, ensure you have a healthy stack of trash bags, paper towels, coasters, plates, cups, tables, and chairs. 

  • Encourage conversation. You don’t want guests attending without interacting. Distribute conversation starters to guests as they arrive to get everyone to interact.

Related: Associa Family Cookbook Volume III

2. Snack Social

If a full meal is overwhelming or residents don’t have time to cook amid all the chaos of the holidays, a snack social is a great alternative. Set up the event in the community clubhouse or outdoors, if weather allows. Invite homeowners to contribute their favorite sharables, provide drinks, and encourage mingling—finger foods make the perfect break between chats. Remind guests to avoid allergens and emphasize a mix of sweet and savory items for the best menu. Some snack ideas for a community gathering include:

  • Cookies

  • Brownies

  • Donuts

  • Muffins

  • Stuffed mushrooms

  • Egg bites

  • Popcorn

  • Chips and dip

  • Deviled eggs

  • Meatballs

3. Gratitude Wall

Friendsgiving doesn’t have to be all about food. Instead, you can encourage your community members to be thankful for what they have. Add a gratitude wall to your community clubhouse and ask residents to drop in. Provide sticky notes or index cards, and have them write down the people and things they’re grateful for in their lives.

This gives residents a chance to shout out fellow members of the association or share stories about what they’ve achieved or overcome. A feel-good occasion, you’ll be sure to put a smile on people’s faces as they read each other’s notes.

4. Volunteering Project

It’s always a good time to give back to the less fortunate, but it’s especially meaningful during the holiday season. To help others enjoy this time of year as much as the people in your community, consider turning Friendsgiving into a charitable effort centered around:

  • A toy drive

  • A sweater drive

  • A blood drive

  • Collecting food bank donations

  • Collecting school supplies for second semesters

  • A trip with residents for a day with a local organization

  • Cleaning up a local park

  • Giving out Thanksgiving meals to the less fortunate

  • Writing gratitude letters to service members/hospital patients/nursing home residents

5. Countdown to Christmas

If your community is already in the Christmas spirit, use Friendsgiving as the official kickoff to the holidays. Hold a “Countdown to Christmas,” where you announce the community’s plans for the season, like a clubhouse Christmas party or a holiday decorating contest. Everyone in attendance can enjoy Christmas music, themed sweaters, and, if food is included, ham and potatoes instead of turkey and mac and cheese.  

Colorful banners fluttering in the gentle breeze of an autumn festival celebrating community

Friendsgiving Food Ideas

Whatever Friendsgiving event you choose, there’s always an opportunity to add classic Friendsgiving foods. Here are some Friendsgiving food ideas to add to your menu:

  • Turkey and gravy

  • Fried chicken

  • Stuffing

  • Mac and cheese

  • Mashed potatoes

  • Rice

  • Baked beans

  • Rolls

  • Cranberry sauce

  • Sweet potato casserole

  • Pumpkin pie

  • Apple pie

  • Pecan pie

  • Chocolate cake

  • Green beans

  • Caesar salad

  • Brussels sprouts

Read More: Event Ideas For Every Type of Community

Planning the Perfect Holiday Events

Use these Friendsgiving ideas to put a spin on Thanksgiving in your community association, but don’t forget about the other holidays to come. Christmas, New Year’s, and so much more follow right behind. For the most efficient planning process, download our “HOA Holiday Event Planning Handbook”. It offers step-by-step instructions for putting together unforgettable get-togethers.