IN THE MIX:

Some of you worked really hard for everything you have. You came from no money, and had parents who couldn’t or wouldn’t give a boost toward success.

For those of you who never got a break, it is understandable if you don’t feel the impulse to give to others, holiday or not. Of course, this is often the kind of person who feels most like helping people out.

For the rest of us who may feel we got a lucky lot in life it’s time to get out the checkbooks, or go get those tags that tell you whether the tot needs a boy or a girl toy.

There are about a billion organizations around ready to accept your donations. You have the option of donating internationally to UNICEF, the Red Cross or Oxfam.

If you feel like getting into the holiday spirit and keeping it local there are plenty of organizations that meet those criteria.

You can go to Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, 720 W. 19th St., and hand out food to and mingle with those in need of a hot meal on Thanksgiving.

If you’re already in the Christmas spirit you can sign up to adopt a tot or a whole family through Costa Mesa’s Share Our Selves.

SOS is hosting a Thanksgiving Food Drive through Tuesday at its offices, 1550 Superior Ave., Adopt a Family Festival of Trees from Nov. 27-29 at the Hilton, 3050 Bristol St., and Adopt a Family — a program that works with the schools to find families. They will need help Dec. 20 passing out the gifts at area schools.

The festival is the second annual event in which decorated Christmas trees are auctioned off. The event includes children’s craft activities. The festival dinner will take place Nov. 29.

OCC is hosting its annual Angel Tree Gift Drive with collection bins around the campus. The college is also participating in an adopt-a-family program for which you can buy a ticket for a drawing, make a cash donation, or adopt a whole family.

For information on that program, call Jennifer LaBounty at (714) 432-5173.

A note about adopting a family: As awesome as it is when a family decides to buy a ton of stuff for another family who may have little during the holidays or the rest of the year, there is a limit. When I helped with the adopt-a-family program at Sonora Elementary School last year I noticed some families received many boxes of food, presents, household items in addition to three or four bikes.

I understand the desire to give a family a Christmas they could never forget and items they’ll use for years, but maybe spread it around to two families?

I’ll take that attitude over another one I’ve heard around this community. There are people who like to criticize any charity because they are corrupt or draw the needy into the area.

The damage United Way did years back lives on. They got caught up in some corruption scandal. At the time my dad had already given up on the organization because he wanted his money to go to the Boys Club of Santa Ana and United Way was limiting how much the group would get regardless of donations.

My dad was pretty peeved, but he just decided to give to the club directly and continues to give to charities he’s familiar with.

He said he looks into the administrators and tries to make sure the money gets where they say it’s going.

My dad happens to be a detective, and not everyone is going to have the tools and skill to investigate each charity.

My OCC colleague Cathy Werblin said she just gives to causes that are important to her. She, like me, doesn’t do much investigating.

“I trust that they’re doing what they’re supposed to do,” she said.

She and I also agree about why we aren’t into giving to the United Way. It is really irritating when your employer comes to you and tries to get you to donate to a charity they’ve picked out for you.

As Werblin said, there are so many different organizations and charities that I value that aren’t a part of the United Way.

Of course there’s nothing I can say to alleviate some people’s fear of corrupt charities — though I have a feeling it can be used as an excuse sometimes.

Corruption should be dealt with. You should check out the charities you want to participate in. But as far as demonizing charities because there are bad people in the world, that’s just ridiculous.

For those of you who aren’t ridiculous, whether or not you have the time or money to donate, enjoy the holidays.

ALICIA LOPEZ teaches journalism at Orange Coast College and lives in Costa Mesa. She can be reached at [email protected].