Local charities offer range of giving options

It's that time of year again. The trees lining Andrássy út are lit up with tiny lights, the shops are filled with Christmas music; all the sights, sounds and smells around town indicate that the Holiday season is here. But as any person with taste can tell you, the coming weeks are not just a time of shopping and consuming, as nice as both are. It is also the season of giving, and not just to those you love or even know. That's right: we're talking charity, as in you opening your heart - and your wallet - for those among us in Budapest and Hungary who are most in need.

One of the most obvious areas of need in Hungary involves the country's large and growing homeless population. Since every second homeless person in Hungary lives in Budapest, there is a great opportunity to make a significant impact right at your doorstep. The Menhely Foundation is an excellent conduit for donations of perishable goods and clothing, and can direct you to other local support projects for the homeless. Meanwhile, if you are more interested in the "long view," the local branch of Habitat for Humanity is not to be overlooked. As it does elsewhere around the world, Habitat volunteers build affordable housing for families in need.

For those who want to share their humanity with humankind's best friends, the Rex Foundation and the White Cross Animal Protection League always welcome donations and offers to volunteer.

The holiday season is an especially good time to think about children in need. The Early Developmental Center provides assessment, development and special care for children with development disorders, while the Childfriends Movement offers a broader range of help for kids. For its part, the Pikler Institute shelters and cares for the most deprived among Hungary's youngest. For those who must cope with the extra disadvantage of long-term medical problems, the Pető Institute and The Alliance of Associations of Kidney Patients help with medical services, especially for children.

For direct clothing and food donations, the Hungarian chapter of the international Red Cross has several locations in Budapest where donations - including donations of blood - can be made. If you are looking for a chance to donate but don't have much time, take a break from your shopping and donate a present at the Red Cross' gift donation drive, which is going on at the back of WestEnd mall until this Sunday (It runs from 14:00 until 22:00 tonight, and from 10.00-20.00 this weekend).

Of course, there is no lack of other ways you can give. Though only in Hungarian, the website nonprofit.hu offers a comprehensive list of charity groups eligible to receive the voluntary 1% "check off" donation on Hungarian taxes. For organizations on the list dealing solely with social issues and family assistance click here. Either way, make sure that this holiday season you are a Secret Santa for someone who is counting on your generosity, even though they'll never know who you are.

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