THANKSGIVING GIVING. When making your end-of-the-year donations, please consider the following five charities. Most are relatively small, so even modest donations would help them significantly.

GLUTEN-FREE RESTAURANT AWARENESS PROGRAM (GFRAP). The good hardworking people of GFRAP are pioneers in training restaurateurs to provide safe meals to gluten-free and wheat-free patrons. GFRAP, which started in the metropolitan area, is gradually expanding across the continent. Finding volunteers is tough, but donations can lighten the workload.


SELFHELP (NASSAU HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS PROGRAM). In the words of its website, Selfhelp Community Services aims "to help older adults live happy, independent lives in their own homes with services that help maintain their health and safety. Today, Selfhelp offers 20,000 aging, frail and 'at-risk' New Yorkers a comprehensive network of social service, senior housing and home care services. It is also the oldest and largest provider of Nazi victim services in North America." Yet I'm told that the agency, which was founded in 1936 by Holocaust refugees, could use funds to provide basic services for the many Holocaust survivors in Long Island's Nassau County, many of whom are in need of special attention. Check out the website and consider earmarking donations to that underserved area.


LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY VIA LAURA SCHILLER. Laura is a friend who hopes to run 13.1 miles in a fundraising event raising money for...well, here's Laura taking a breather from her training: "If you could mention that I've raised more than $2,300 and ran my first 8-mile course recently, so am more than halfway towards my goal of raising $3,600 and running 13.1 miles but REALLY need support on the fundraising side, and that all donations will go directly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Leukemia research is actually the backbone of all cancer research and every bit makes a difference towards finding a cure, and that it's down to the wire for folks to make tax-deductible gifts for 2005 ANYWAY so they may as well...that would be so great." To summarize: Donating through Laura strikes a tax-deductible blow against cancer and eases her difficult tasks of raising $3,600 and running 13.1 miles.


ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION NEW YORK CITY CHAPTER. The services provided by this top-notch organization are increasingly important as the population of Alzheimer's patients (and caregivers) in New York City is expected to reach very high levels. Whether or not you give, keep this place in mind as an excellent resource for people with dementia and the people who care for them.


EDUCATION & ASSISTANCE CORPORATION. Founded in 1969, this organization "is a not-for-profit agency providing a broad array of educational, vocational, counseling, mediation and intervention services." Its goal is "to respond to human needs with programs that protect children, promote healthy families and communities, help seniors and empower individuals to take control of their lives."

Photo: David Marc Fischer