The holidays are about giving, and giving thanks. The holidays are about children and family. The holidays are about sharing, about joy. The holidays are about being thankful and about faith and appreciation. The holidays are about alleviating suffering for others.

Northern Virginia is among the wealthiest areas in the country. Many if not most of us go through our daily and seasonal routines without encountering evidence of the needy families among us.

In Alexandria, 8,618 students are poor enough to receive free or subsidized meals. That’s 59 percent of the 14,677 students enrolled.

Nearly 8 percent Alexandria residents live below the poverty line, a harrowing $24,000 for a family of four. More than 25 percent of female-headed households with children live below the poverty line in Alexandria.

These are children living in families who may be on the brink of homelessness, families who must choose between medical bills, car repair, heat and food. Some of these are children who may not be sure that they will have a meal between the meals they get in school.

School holidays can bring uncertainty and hunger, a far cry from the celebrations, gifts and plenty that we associate with Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Hundreds of homeless students attend the public schools, and their needs are greater.

Many nonprofits in the county need your help to provide a holiday meal for Thanksgiving or Christmas, to provide children with gifts.

There are literally hundreds, probably thousands, of ways to give locally this season. Here are a few ideas. We will rerun this list again after Thanksgiving, so please let us know what we have missed. — Mary Kimm, mkimm@connectionnewspapers.com

Alexandria: Where to Give Locally

• ALIVE! 703-837-9300 www.alive-inc.org, Emergency food assistance, emergency financial assistance, shelter, year-round preschool, furniture and housewares.
• Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, 703-237-0866,www.lcnv.org, Teaches adults the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking and understanding English. Offers one-to-one tutoring programs for adult learners as well as beginning-level ESOL and Family Learning adult programs.
• Senior Services of Alexandria, 703-836-4414, www.seniorservicesalex.org, Support services for elders enabling them to age with dignity.
• Tahirih Justice Center, 703-575-0070, www.tahirih.org, Legal services, public policy advocacy, and education for immigrant women and girls.
• Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 703-746-4774, www.alexandriaanimals.org, Pet adoptions, spay and neuter assistance, education and community service and outreach.
• Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia, 703-820-9001, www.scanva.org, Parent education, public education-re: child abuse and court advocacy for abused and neglected children.
• Rebuilding Together Alexandria, 703-836-1021, www.RebuildingTogetherAlex.org, Home repair and maintenance for vulnerable veterans, elderly, disabled and families with children.
• ACT for Alexandria, 703-739-7778, www.actforalexandria.org, Nonprofit and donor services.
• Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless, 703-525-7177, www.aachhomeless.org.
• Carpenter's Shelter, 703 548-7500, www.carpentersshelter.org, Homeless services and programs including education and case management.
• The Campagna Center, 703-549-0111,www.campagnacenter.org
• Center for Alexandria’s Children, 703-838-4381, www.centerforalexandriaschildren.org, Child abuse & neglect and parent support.
• Child and Family Network Centers, 703-836- 0214, www.cfnc-online.org
• Community Lodgings, Inc., 703-549-4407 Transitional and affordable housing, youth education, adult education, bilingual staff assistance.
• Computer C.O.R.E. 703-931-7346, www.computercore.org, Adult education, computer training and career development.
• Hopkins House, 703-549-8072, www.hopkinshouse.org, Preschool academy, family budgeting and literacy, family education and youth summer enrichment camp, Early Childhood Learning Institute.
• Volunteer Alexandria, 703-836-2176, http://volunteeralexandria.org, Volunteer recruitment and placement, court-referred community service placement, community awareness events, and volunteer management training. See www.achsova.org.
• Bethany House, 6121 Lincolnia Rd #303, Alexandria, VA 22312, 703-658-9500, www.bhnv.org. Bethany House provides emergency shelter and supportive services to victims of domestic violence throughout Northern Virginia and the surrounding D.C. metro communities.
• Volunteer Alexandria, 123 N Alfred St., Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-836-2176, handsonconnect.volunteeralexandria.org.
• Friends of the Alexandria Mental Health Center raises funds to support the special and emergency needs of individuals who are receiving services for mental illness, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities from the city’s Department of Community and Human Services.  Send donations to Friends of the Alexandria Mental Health Center, 720 North Saint Asaph Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314.  Donations can be made online at Razoo.com.
• Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia transforms the lives of lower-income families in need by providing affordable homeownership opportunities in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and Falls Church. Learn more at www.habitatnova.org.
• Assistance League of Northern Virginia is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that feeds, clothes and educates children in need. Assistance League’s philanthropic programs touch the lives of thousands of children at 11 Title I schools in Northern Virginia, serving children most in need at selected schools in Fairfax and Prince William counties and the City of Alexandria. To learn more about volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, contact alnorthernva@gmail.com or visit http://www.northernvirginia.assistanceleague.org