'Tis the season to spread joy-and celebrities are getting in on the action.California's unemployment rate hit 12.5 percent in October. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says more people are "food insecure" than ever before, and more homeless than ever are eating meals at the Los Angeles Mission, a nonprofit organization serving the homeless who live on the streets of downtown LA's Hope Central (known as Skid Row). For the past 17 years, the Mission has served a full Thanksgiving meal to those in need.

Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas and his wife, Anne, hosted the event for the fifth year in a row, serving meals themselves. They were joined by hundreds of volunteers from the entertainment industry, the government and the community.

Celebrities who turned out included primetime TV celebs like Naya Rivera (Glee), Zuleikha Robinson (Lost) and Erin Cummings (Dollhouse). Daytime soaps were represented by Kate Linder (The Young and the Restless) and Taylor Spreitler (Days of Our Lives). Stars of the big screen were on hand too, including Corbin Bleu and Olesya Rulin (High School Musical), Booboo Stewart and Julia Jones (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) and Zoe Saldana (Star Trek). Moving away from the entertainment industry, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Congress members Maxine Waters and David Dreier, Sheriff Lee Baca and others were also among the volunteers.

Celebrities were out and about and spreading the holiday spirit outside of the LA Mission, too. Ex-Girl Next Door Holly Madison spent Thanksgiving at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts serving meals to at-risk students and disadvantaged senior citizens. Keyshia Cole, nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist at the American Music Awards, headed home to Cleveland, giving away turkeys and groceries to 150 families at the Bethany Baptist Church.

So get into the spirit of giving, Brandeis! Thanksgiving weekend was remarkably free of celebrity scandal-Lindsay stayed sober, Britney's not pregnant, and even Lady Gaga seems to have kept her pants on. Let's be thankful for small miracles and start hoping for snow!