Helping out for the holidays

On a day of plenty, there are still many in need.

As the nation attempts to recover from recession, many remain out of work or are struggling to get by on part-time jobs.

In Los Angeles County, more than 1.56 million residents lived below the poverty level last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

“You think there’s signs of a turnaround, but there’s no sign of a turnaround here,” said the Rev. Andy Bales, who heads the Union Rescue Mission in downtown Los Angeles’ skid row. “There’s a lot of people barely making it.”

At the same time, contributions to charitable organizations are dropping as donors become stretched.

Many families will be sitting down to a chicken dinner this Thanksgiving because food pantries decided they could help more people by forgoing the traditional turkeys.

“L.A. at times gets a bad rap, but this is a giving community,” said Michael Flood, president of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. “I would just appeal to people who are doing OK financially to do what they can to help people who are struggling.”

There are many ways to give. You could buy a gift for a needy child, hand out food to people living with HIV, donate your legal expertise to female offenders who are rebuilding their lives or foster an abandoned pet.

Here are a few of the many places where you can contribute:

AIDS Project Los Angeles provides care and support to about 10,000 people affected by HIV, most living on less than $10,000 a year. The group needs financial contributions, nonperishable food items and volunteers for its food pantries and special events.

The David Geffen Center, 611 S. Kingsley Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90005. (213) 201-1600. www.apla.org

A New Way of Life Reentry Project provides housing and support to female offenders making a transition back into the community. The group needs women’s undergarments, baby clothes, diapers, toiletries, cleaning supplies, grocery store gift cards, a cargo van, financial contributions and volunteers who can donate counseling, dental care, household maintenance and legal services.

Box 875288, Los Angeles, CA 90087. (323) 563-3575. www.anewwayoflife.org

Animal shelters and rescue groups are seeing an increase in abandoned pets and a decline in adoptions because of the economy. The groups need families willing to foster a pet for the holidays, which could help them decide if they are ready to adopt. To find a participating shelter in your area: www.petfinder.com/fosteralonelypet

Firefighters from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties and the city of Los Angeles collect gifts for needy children. The firefighters need new, unwrapped toys or sports equipment. Drop off donations at any local fire station until Dec. 24. To donate online: www.calfund.org/give/giving_sparkoflove

.php#contribute

Fred Jordan Missions serves about 600,000 meals a year to homeless people living on skid row and in nearby communities. The agency needs new or gently used warm clothing, meat and nonperishable food items, financial contributions.

Box 12345, Covina, CA 91722. (800) 964-3663. www.fjm.org

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles has helped hundreds of families move out of substandard housing since 1990. The group needs financial contributions and volunteers to build homes.

c/o Development Department, 17700 S. Figueroa St., Gardena, CA 90248. (310) 323-4663. www.habitatla.org

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles offers services for disadvantaged residents, senior citizens and a volunteer literacy program. The group needs financial contributions and volunteers.

Goldsmith Center, 6505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. (866) 968-7333. www.JewishLA.org

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank supplies food to more than 550 pantries and other charities. The group needs nonperishable food items and financial contributions, or go to its website to find a pantry that needs volunteers. 1734 E. 41st St., Los Angeles, CA 90058. (323) 234-3030. www.lafood

bank.org

MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity) assists as many as 31,000 people in need in the San Fernando Valley each month. The group needs volunteers to help collect, sort and distribute holiday donations; new, unwrapped gifts for children ages 10-14; new blankets; frozen turkeys; baking supplies; store gift cards and financial contributions. 10641 N. San Fernando Road, Pacoima, CA 91331. (818) 897-2443. www.mendpoverty.org

The Salvation Army Southern California Division distributed more than 100,000 toys and provided more than 250,000 meals last holiday season. Go to www.jcp.com/angel to find needy children and senior citizens by ZIP Code and send them a gift from their wish lists. The group needs volunteers to pack and distribute donations, new, unwrapped toys for children up to age 16, new clothing, food items and financial contributions. 180 E. Ocean Blvd., Suite 500, Long Beach, CA 90802. (800)-725-2769. www.salvationarmy

socal.org

Umma Community Clinic provides free and low-cost primary care medical services to about 170 patients a week in South Los Angeles. The group needs financial contributions and volunteers to do office work. Box A52, Los Angeles, CA 90044. (323) 967-0375. www.umma

clinic.org

Union Rescue Mission houses about 1,800 people and serves about 5,000 meals a day over the holiday period. The group needs new, unwrapped toys, wrapping paper and ribbon, nonperishable food items and financial contributions. 545 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. (213) 347-6300. www.urm.org

For other ideas go to www.volunteermatch.com or www.greatnonprofits.org

alexandra.zavis@latimes.com