Five Ways to Give This Week

Retailers have been banking on a strong holiday season to finish out the year, but there are several local nonprofits hoping Lowcountry residents are willing to give to the less fortunate, too.

Here are five opportunities this week to get on Santa's nice list.

• $1 to MUSC Children's Hospital: Local Dunkin' Donuts locations are hosting through Saturday. The stores are selling cut-out paper cuts for $1. They'll also donate $1 for every purchase of a dozen donuts or 50-count Munchkin box.
• Trident Community Blood Drive: The Trident Medical Center will be hosting a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday at the hospital's Café B. Donors will be entered to win two pairs of roundtrip tickets on Delta airlines. To schedule an appointment, call 843-847-3376 or visit redcrossblood.org and enter tridentmed as the sponsor. Walk-ins also welcome. There will be a second blood drive Dec. 23. 
• Red Cross Holiday Giving Catalog: Instead of buying that knick-knack destined for your mother-in-law's attic or — gasp — regifted to the mailman, the American Red Cross is offering its holiday catalog as a one-stop shop to donate to its various causes. For instance, give $50 for a military comfort kit or $30 for hot meals for three people. Each tax-deductible catalog purchase comes with a greeting card to notify loved ones of the gifts you have made in their honor.
• TriCounty Adoptathon: Four Lowcountry animal shelters, the Doc Williams SPCA, the Francis Willis SPCA, Pet Helpers and the Charleston Animal Society, are hoping to find homes for 400 shelter animals in an all-day event Saturday. All four sites will stay open until 9 p.m. and will also be offering animals at other sites across the region. Each animal is spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.
• Local Adoption Effort: Last month, we wrote about. It's a costly process and they're holding a second yard sale event from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday  in downtown Goose Creek. If you can't make the event, they're also selling handmade ornaments at their blog.

There are tons of other opportunites and organizations anxious for your support this time of year. Pitch in where you can and share any other deserving organizations in the comments section below.