A guide to giving in Asheville. By Jennifer Saylor.

We’ve gathered a list of local charities to consider this season, offering food, shelter, gifts and support to local people who need it. We want to hear from you, too. Who else is out there serving those in need this holiday season?

The deadline to help some of these charities might have passed. Call to see what help they might still need for 2013.

Pick an ornament, help a child

Pick up ornaments with a name, age and Christmas wish list of a local child at Jubilee Community Church, downtown on Wall Street. Sunday mornings are a perfect time to stop by. The Christmas tree with wish-list ornaments is in the lobby.

Donate toys

WNC Toys for Tots: A locally run campaign of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation. Everything that is collected by the campaign stays in our area to help children in WNC. Santa Pal: Since 1936, the Asheville Optimist Club has continued the yearly tradition of raising money, buying quality toys, and helping to children in the community have presents for Christmas.

Santa Pal: Since 1936, the Asheville Optimist Club has continued the yearly tradition of raising money, buying quality toys, and helping to children in the community have presents for Christmas.

Eliada Homes: Sponsor a child for Christmas. Eliada provides foster care for youth. WNC Toys for Tots: A locally run campaign of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation. Everything that is collected by the campaign stays in our area to help children in WNC. Santa Pal: Since 1936, the Asheville Optimist Club has continued the yearly tradition of raising money, buying quality toys, and helping to children in the community have presents for Christmas.

Eblen Charities’ St. Nicholas Project: Dozens of convenient local drop-off sites for toy collection. Diamond Thieves Body Piercing and Tattoo offers 50% off any piercing and 20% off tattoos with the donation of an unwrapped gift worth more than $10. The Western North Carolina AIDS Project collects toys for children in WNC affected by HIV/AIDS with.

Diamond Thieves Body Piercing and Tattoo offers 50% off any piercing and 20% off tattoos with the donation of an unwrapped gift worth more than $10. The Western North Carolina AIDS Project collects toys for children in WNC affected by HIV/AIDS with.

The Western North Carolina AIDS Project collects toys for children in WNC affected by HIV/AIDS with.

Christmas charities for families and elders in need

Warren Haynes Christmas Jam Charitable Foundation: Support Habitat for Humanity–help give someone a place to call home. Homeward Bound of Asheville: Give time, money, or goods to the award-winning local charity that helps end homelessness locally with permanent housing. Helpmate’s wishlist: Client and shelter needs for an organization that helps women and children escape abusive relationships.

Homeward Bound of Asheville: Give time, money, or goods to the award-winning local charity that helps end homelessness locally with permanent housing.

Helpmate’s wishlist: Client and shelter needs for an organization that helps women and children escape abusive relationships.

Food for Christmas

Donate money or food to MANNA FoodBank, a nonprofit that works to end hunger in WNC. You can also drop off nonperishable food items at the Ingles Giving Tree at the Asheville Mall.

Meals on Wheels: No one should be hungry during the holidays. In-home meal delivery service for elderly homebound clients living in Asheville and Buncombe County. Five hundred meals served every weekday.

Loving Food Resources: Loving Food Resources provides basic food and personal care items to people living with HIV/AIDS and those in home hospice care.

Who and where are you helping this year? Leave a comment and tell us what we missed.