Want to make a difference and feel good about yourself this holidayseason? What better way to get into the spirit of Christmas than tovolunteer your time to those less fortunate?

The need forenthusiastic volunteers is great this time of year, and help is alwaysgreatly appreciated. Luckily, this year there are a variety of wayspeople can help out; there is something for everyone.

You don’t needany experience to help out, just a great attitude and a big heart.

Help feed the hungry on December 16, from 8 a.m. to noon. The SacramentoFood Bank Services assembles more than 1,000 bag lunches and distributesthem to the less fortunate.

According to the food bank, approximately50 percent of those who profit from this service are under 12 years ofage.

Tasks will include preparing bag lunches, sorting clothes oralternate food package assembly. They are located at 3333 Third Ave. inSacramento.

For those who like to give but don’t have a lot of spare time, there isa new way to help out. There are several Web sites that give through theone click method. Users can click on whichever cause they want to helpout, and sponsors automatically give a specified amount — usually abouta cent or two. It might not sound like much, but it adds up quickly.

At www.hungersite.com, oneclick on the donate button will take less than a minute, but will donate1.1 cups of staple food.

Other sites that use this system are www.ecology.com and www.greatergood.com. Ongreatergood.com, up to 15 percent of every purchase goes to charity.

With a choice of causes such as Special Olympics, The Humane Society,March of Dimes and Goodwill, you are sure to find one that hits close tohome and your heart.

There are many ways to volunteer your time during the holiday seasons, aswell as throughout the year. All it takes is compassion andunderstanding.

Try these web sites forhundreds of local volunteering opportunities.

www.volunteermatch.org –

Partenered with Red Cross, Goodwill and CASA, this site listsvolunteering opportunities that range from one to several hours perweek. Searchable by zip code, the engine found more than 200opportunities in Sacramento, including: meals on wheels driver, petadoption counselor, light and sound technician and tutor.

www.helping.org –

Usesvolunteermatch.com’s search engine, but also provides extensiveresources on charities and donations.

www.iyv2001.org –

InNovember 1997, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2001 asthe International Year of Volunteers. The official Web site offerscharity and volunteering planning tools as well as listings.Opportunities are organized by state and searchable by date, type ororganization.

www.sacramento.org/loaves/help.html –

This homeless shelter hasvolunteer orientation every Thursday at 11 a.m., 1321 North C St. Theshelter is also in great need of many household and food items, and theWeb site has a list of things they need the most. Opportunities include:meal preparing and serving, visiting guests in jail, working in alibrary or retail store, sending thank you notes and helping out withpet care.

www.sacramento-redcross.org –

The Sacramento chapter of the RedCross has several ways for people to help out, including: administrationand clerical work, marketing, disaster services and counseling.