With everyone in the holiday spirit and many thinking about that income tax bill just around the corner, it's no surprise that urgent pleas for year-end donations can nearly drown out the sounds of Christmas cheer.

Have you checked your mailbox lately? Even groups you haven't supported in years are suddenly reappearing as old friends bearing holiday cards and token gifts as the New Year approaches.

One thing is for sure: 'Tis the season for year-end giving.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. Charitable giving is important any time of year, but especially during the holidays, when contributions can become a truly meaningful gift.

Just think about it: Weeks from now, when all of the presents have been unwrapped and the madness of the holiday season has faded, what remains? Many gifts will be pushed aside to make space for the next new thing. Those tasty cakes and cookies will be long gone. But charitable contributions you make — for yourself or as a gift honoring family and friends — could still be changing lives.

What could be more meaningful than providing shelter for a homeless family or helping a neighbor escape domestic abuse? What about giving a young child some exciting educational experience that opens her world to new possibilities? Or getting patients the medical care they need to see yet another Christmas season?

Sorting through all of the requests can be a daunting task, so how do you make the most of your year-end giving?

Support causes that are meaningful to you or the person you're honoring. Whether it's keeping performing arts alive in our community or preparing for disaster relief worldwide, it's easy to find something that appeals to just about any personal interest. You'll feel better about your contribution when you're supporting something that's important to you.

Make sure the charity is legitimate and uses money wisely. For local contributions, one great place to begin is the United Way of Lee County, since all partner agencies have been screened extensively by a team of community volunteers and are working to solve our most-pressing local needs.

Information about national organizations is available from several good sources, including GuideStar (guidestar.org), which publishes information about charities, and Philanthropedia (myphilanthropedia.org), a GuideStar affiliate that recommends outstanding organizations working on two dozen different causes.

Another good source is Give.Org, home of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance. The Bureau monitors complaints against charities, just as it does for businesses, and offers a "National Charity Seal Program" for national organizations meeting a high standard of accountability. About 340 organizations have earned the distinction.

If you're pressured for a donation or have any doubt about a charity, contribute somewhere else. There are scores of excellent charities that deserve your support working right here in our own community and even more beyond our borders. In fact, the National Center for Charitable Statistics (nccs.urban.org) estimates that almost 43,000 charities are based in North Carolina and more than 1.5 million exist across the United States. With so many excellent charities to choose from, there's no reason to take a chance.

Consider a donation to several exceptional organizations through the United Way. With so many good choices, it can be hard to decide which one to support. By making an undesignated contribution to the United Way, your gift supports two dozen community groups and causes.

Or, if you have a set of specific groups you want to support, you can write one check to the United Way and designate how that amount will be distributed to your own set of charities. Consider it easy, one-stop shopping for contributions.

Whether you're looking for that meaningful gift, a way to soften the income tax burden or the opportunity to help neighbors, this is an ideal time to make a charitable contribution. By following these few quick tips, you can make the most of your year-end giving and help someone enjoy a better life.