Still wanted: your donations

The holiday season is a time for generosity, when many people give to local charities. But when the calendar rolls over to the new year and the decorations come down, the spirit of generosity often fades.

Thanks to the selflessness of so many, needy families across Long Island had the chance to enjoy bountiful holidays. Every year we bring you stories about local organizations holding food drives for Thanksgiving, toy drives for Christmas and Hanukkah and coat and mitten drives for the onset of winter. We feature organizations that make the holidays brighter for those who are struggling. We could fill our December papers with those stories, at a time when the supply at local food pantries typically — fortunately — keeps up with demand.

But hunger doesn’t end for needy families in January. At many pantries right around now, the supply of food is beginning to dwindle, and shelves are no longer crowded. This just isn’t a time of year when many of us are conscious of the needs of our community.

According to the Hunger in America 2010 report, Island Harvest and Long Island Cares provide hunger-relief services to about 283,000 people on Long Island each year. That’s 10 percent of the region’s population. Think about that. One in 10 Long Islanders needs assistance just to avoid going hungry.

We’re also entering the coldest part of the year, when people need jackets, sweaters, gloves, hats and scarves. Many local outreach centers accept these donated items. And there’s really no better time of year for donating clothing than right after the holidays, when many of us got new clothes. We’ll probably be storing or discarding some old things we won’t be wearing anymore. Why not donate them? Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters will pick them up at your front door, or you can drop them off at the local Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul Society or thrift shop. Your donation can keep someone warm this winter.

Especially in this difficult economy, need never takes a vacation.