It’s the season for sharing and caring. A time to remember the neediest. And, for many people, it is one of the few times each year where we take a closer look at the needs of our neighbors and our communities.
Thousands of people across Austin pitch in in their own ways — volunteering their time, making financial donations and sharing their expertise with those who need help. The United Way for Greater Austin, for example, drew in about $17 million in contributions last year.
Meanwhile groups ranging from churches to Lance Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG help raise money for more specific needs.
Austin has dozens of ways to volunteer or donate your time this holiday season. You can make simple donations to the United Way for Greater Austin, which channels the money to education, life skills and leadership training. Or you can get more involved with organizations such as the Austin Community Foundation.
Or look at personal stories of need on the Austin American-Statesman’s “Season for Caring” site, which looks into people’s stories of need and raises money to help them.
If you’re more interested in making sure every child has a Christmas gift, consider finding a nearby Toys for Tots drop off.
A few key pieces of information about Austin giving:
— In Travis County, about one in five people — or 192,000 — live below the poverty level, according to the United Way for Greater Austin.
— The Austin area was among 15 metro areas noted in a Business Insider report about areas with the greatest increase in poverty.
— Austin ranked 9th in volunteering among the 50 largest American metropolitan areas, according to a Bloomberg analysis of Census data.
— Austin ranked as the 36th most giving city of the 50 largest metro areas, according to an analysis by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
— Austinites gave about 2.6 percent of their incomes. That figure came from The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s analysis of the percentage of adjusted gross income and charitable deductions reported on income-tax forms. (Learn more details here.)