167 W.Pike St., Pontiac, MI 48341, (248) 334-3827. Needed: Gloves, mittens, winter hats, children's pajamas, children's winter coats, children's under clothing, personal care products, school supplies.

1545 E. Lincoln Ave., Royal Oak, www.boysandgirlsclub.us , (248) 544-4166. Needed: 12-passenger van, digital camera, new Pentium computer, laser printer, Ping Pong table, kiln, funds for new basketball uniforms.

2111 Woodward Ave. Suite 700, Detroit, (313) 964-5070. Needed: Beds, mattresses, large appliances, pots and pans, toys, linen, food, outerwear, curtains, small appliances.

11850 Woodrow Wilson St., Detroit, www.cass community.org, (313) 883-2277. Needed: Adult and children's underwear, socks, puzzles, board games, blankets, twin bed sheets, prelit Christmas tree.

15945 Canal Road, Clinton Township, P.O. Box 380290, Clinton Township, www.csmacomb.org , (586) 416-2300. Needed: Baby items, gift certificates for local grocery stores, a van for transport.

50 Wayne St., Pontiac, www.cssoc. org, (248) 333-3700. Needed: Gift certificates, camcorder, TV/VCR/DVD combo, digital camera, cash donations, infant and booster car seats, twin beds and bedding, cribs and bedding, storybooks, educational toys, craft supplies, gardening equipment, large print and audio books, sugar-free snacks and drinks, overhead projector, sewing machine, piano tuning and repair, baking volunteers, handyman volunteer.

9851 Hamilton Ave., Detroit, www.csswayne. org, (313) 883-2100. Needed: Wheelchair lift, carpet, paint, power washing, outside signage, color printer, snow blower, laptop projector, infant changing table, new coats for ages 12-17, digital camera.

26 Peterboro St., Detroit, www.cotsdetroit.org , (313) 831-3777. Needed: Construction paper, paint, paintbrushes, finger paints, children's books, book bags/school supplies, disposable diapers, baby wipes, tissues, infant items, disposable razors, dental floss, personal care items, towels and washcloths, twin sheets, pillows, blankets, canned foods/nonperishables, televisions, small kitchen appliances, vacuum cleaners, new underclothing (all sizes), extra-large women's and men's clothing, coats, shoes/boots.

1105 N. Telegraph Road, Waterford Township, www.mi.easterseals.com , (248) 4851-2991. Needed (do not wrap items): Gift certificates, cleaning supplies, small kitchen appliances, dishes, personal care items, hair clips, clothes, gift boxes (all sizes), wrapping paper, linens, alarm clocks, television, CD player, computers and educational software, school supplies, duffle bags, journals and pens, scrapbooks and materials, tools, batteries (AA, AAA, D, C), Christmas music tapes and CDs, DVD and VHS movies (G, PG, PG-13), board games, card games, puzzles, stuffed animals, footballs and basketballs, dolls, action figures, toy cars, coats, gloves, hats and scarves.

26645 W. Six Mile, Detroit, www.themethodistchildrenshome. com, (313) 531-9464. Needed: Kitchen items, linen, Christmas trees, DVD/VCR combo players, holiday decorations, movie passes, stereo systems, action figures, baseball mitts, basketball pumps, bike helmets, bike pumps, board games, comic books, disposable cameras, Lego set, model cars, playing cards, race car sets, sleds, children's clothes, team baseball caps, yo-yo's, backpacks, cologne, computer, thesaurus and dictionary, craft glue and kits.

196 Cesar E. Chavez, P.O. Box 430598, Pontiac, www.olh sa.org, (248) 209-2600. Needed: Adopt-A-Family for the holiday, canned goods, turkeys, hams, gift certificates for groceries, $35-$40 gift for a child, school supplies, musical instruments (new or used), diapers, bottles, infant clothing, diaper bags, formula, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, tub grab bars, large-button phones.

Inc., 10100 Harper Ave. Detroit, (313) 921-9422. Needed: Gloves, socks, hats, shirts, underwear, hygiene packets, blankets, linen, coats, soap, belts, shoes.

431 N. Main St., Royal Oak, (248) 546-6566. Needed: Bath towels and wash cloths, sheets (extra long twin flat or fitted), pillows, pillowcases, blankets, various toiletry items, bottled water, laundry detergent, bleach, disposable diapers, baby wipes, nonperishable food, duffel bags, new men's and women's underwear and socks, men'sT-shirts (extra large), hats and gloves for men, women and children; men and women's shoes, sweatshirts and sweatpants for women, men and children (plain colors; size medium to 2XL for adults; all sizes for children), men's belts, jeans (size 34-52 long) and shirts, cash.

333 N. Perry St., Pontiac., www.thefurniturebank.com , (248) 332-1300. Needed: Beds, dining room tables and chairs, dressers, stoves, refrigerators, washers and dryers, mattresses and box springs.

500 Eastland Center, Vernier Road, Harper Woods, www.toysfortotssemi.com , (313) 363-9480. Needed: Electronics, games, music CDs, CD players, baby toys, footballs, basketballs, Barbie dolls and accessories, anything educational.

1150 Griswold St., Suite 1800, Detroit www.travelersaiddetroit.org , (313) 962-6740. Needed: Turkeys, toys, coats, shoes, low-cost housing, furniture, small appliances.

158 S. Main St., Mount Clemens. www.turningpointinc.com , (586) 463-4430. Needed: Food, office supplies, journals, gas cards, household Items, casual and business clothing for women, school clothes for children and teens, winter coats, toys, puzzles, games (nonviolent), arts and craft kits, Xbox games (nonviolent), paperback dictionaries, multiplication flashcards, combination locks.

Estella Vitale, 39, of Shelby Township, from left, Samira Naham, 45, of Warren and Rob Arseneau, 19, of Roseville sort clothing at the Sterling Heights donation center, the largest in America.

Christmastide, one charitable soul reminds Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens' classic morality tale, is that time of year when abundance rejoices and want is keenly felt. This holiday season, every charitable organization in southeastern Michigan would say amen to that.

It isn't just that so many people are staring into winter's chill with exceptional need; the "abundance" part is a problem, too. Thanks to Michigan's downward spiraling economy and the outpouring of relief in response to Hurricane Katrina, resources are especially strained this year.

"We still have pressing local needs," says Delois Whitaker Caldwell, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit. "We have to ask citizens here to contribute more than normal, to double up if they can. We're all like one big family, and sometimes when one part of the family is in trouble, you have to sacrifice more on your end."

With area plant closings and layoffs on the rise, the need this winter will be acute. As Colleen Kinney, director of community relations for the Southeastern Michigan Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, puts it: "We have more opportunities to serve."

And, as they have done for so many Christmases past, readers of The Detroit News have asked how they can help. In previous years, The News sponsored a Helping Hands program before the holidays, which matched people who needed assistance with readers who wanted to help. But this year, we're directing those queries to organizations that specialize in giving relief, not just at the holidays, but year round. Remaining Helping Hands donations will be turned over to local charities that care for people in need.

One such caring organization, CareGivers, operates programs for the homeless, helping to move people from temporary shelters into affordable housing.

"People can be homeless for many reasons -- a fire, job loss, divorce," says Sharon Lapides, CareGivers' vice president of programs. "They often end up in places that aren't really habitable or even safe, like an abandoned building with no heat or electricity. We help them find a suitable place to live and provide counseling for job hunting and financial management."

CareGivers also helps the dispossessed obtain basic household items such as a stove and refrigerator, beds and bedding. "These are the kinds of things we need," Lapides says. "We're not looking for TVs."

But there again is that paradox of Michigan's strained economy. "As the economy gets tighter," says the Salvation Army's Kinney, "more people are holding on to clothing and household goods they might replace in better times."

At the Southeastern Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross, it's the same story from a different perspective. If you think the day-to-day business of the Red Cross is collecting and distributing blood, guess again. The local Red Cross's dominant service is providing relief to victims of house fires. And in winter, when space heaters are overtaxed and some desperate folks actually try to heat rooms with stove burners or open ovens, the number of fires shoots up.

The Red Cross, says spokesman Bryan Peckinpaugh, can provide fire victims with food, clothing and temporary shelter, usually in a hotel. But who would have dreamed of this: Peckinpaugh is concerned about where he can place fire victims during the Super Bowl festivities, when virtually every hotel room for miles around Detroit will be booked by the National Football League and its fans.

Still, Peckinpaugh has larger concerns. Even this paragon of charities, the Red Cross, faces a daunting challenge as winter comes on. Peckinpaugh cited two donors who typically anted up $25,000 each at the holidays. This year, both responded to the Red Cross' Katrina relief and canceled their local gifts.

Accompanying this story, you'll find a list of Metro Detroit charitable organizations with their contact information. Their ability to help is in your hands.

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