The 2012 holiday season is here, and that means giving for most any Houstonians. Whether it’s time, money or gifts you give, there are plenty of needy individuals and families in the greater Houston area in need of some assistance and good cheer this time of the year. Here are some of the best places to make holiday gift donations near you.

Star of Hope Mission
1811 Ruiz St.
Houston, TX  77002
(713) 227-8900
www.sohmission.org

Star of Hope Mission is a shelter that offers a place to call home for more than a thousand individuals each night. It’s more than just a place to sleep, however, it also offers counseling, life management, recovery from abuse and other assistance. Star of Hope accepts monetary donations as well as gifts of clothing and other items. Anything that could be useful to an individual in need is much appreciated, and there is always a need for volunteers to assist with running the shelter

Houston Food Bank
535 Portwall St.
Houston, TX 77029
(713) 223-3700
www.houstonfoodbank.org

Among basic human needs, food ranks at the top of the list, and the Houston Food Bank is ready to serve the greater Houston area each day with its outreach. It is the largest organization in the Houston area in terms of hunger prevention, with more than 50 million meals distributed last year to Houston and to other nearby areas. Always in need of volunteers, the Houston Food Bank accepts donations of time as well as contributions of cash or non-perishable food items.

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Houston Children’s Charity
230 Westcott St., Suite 202
Houston, TX  77007
(713) 524-2878
www.houstonchildrenscharity.org

Houston Children’s Charity keeps the best interests of children in mind. It exists to serve those who are underprivileged, abused, disabled or otherwise in need. Families may donate to the Adopt-a-Family and the Christmas programs around the holidays, though options abound year round. Both of these programs involve gift giving to a specific family to get you and yours in the spirit this holiday season.

Houston Furniture Bank
2100 Hussion St.
Houston, TX 77003
(713) 842-9771
houstonfurniturebank.org

Founded in 1992, the Houston Furniture Bank is a non-profit organization that seeks to assist families in need through gifts of household needs. Interested donors may offer used furniture, appliances and other household accessories provided they are in good condition. The service also offers Adopt-a-Family programs so potential donors may get to know the families whom they have helped. Cash contributions are easily made online via the Paypal payment option.

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The Salvation Army Greater Houston Area Command
1500 Austin St.
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 752-0677
www.salvationarmyhouston.org

One of the most recognized names for gift giving during the holiday season, the Salvation Army picks up the pace during this time of year and calls on individuals to give a little more to those in need. The familiar Salvation Army donation buckets, with their ringing bells and bright red color, may be found outside many stores and are ready to accept any size gift. Those who would rather donate in a more formal way may send money directly to the Salvation Army for general program use. The Salvation Army also accepts household goods such as furniture, clothing and other useful items.

Bryan Carey is a Houston, Texas resident with an avid interest in restaurants, dining, breweries, wineries, festivals, cultural events, museums, theatre, concerts, and other forms of entertainment. He has been writing about entertainment, travel, and related topics for more than fifteen years and has thousands of articles to his credit. His work can be found at Examiner.com.