'Tis the Holiday Season for Tax Deductable Gifts

As the holiday season fast approaches, so does the end of another tax year. So many throughout our local communities and the world are in charitable need. Gifting an organization this year can both fill your own need to tap into the true spirit of giving, but also be an immediate reward in terms of tax deductions. Both parties are relieved with one act of generosity.

I suggest this holiday season that you open a discussion with your loved ones about their favorite cheritable organization. Not only will you find out who to gift on their behalf, but the journey may motivate you about a new association. My family has decided to do this very thing this holiday season. There will be no question of what that person would enjoy best, but rather whom they most wish to support. This is something that my family is doing this year. The rewards of this are many fold. The silent benefit is the relief I have already felt from not having to traverse the malls and parking lots with the herd of holiday shoppers. My holiday seems brighter already!

My sister will be donating her holiday gift dollars to the local Marine Toys for Tots program. She has for years purchased gifts, but this year she will purchase additional toys on behalf of each member of the family. I am more than willing to forgo the stresses of gift exchange and allow a child's heart to be filled when they receive a gift this season that they might not have otherwise had. Poverty can be painfully obvious when a child looks around and see's others receiving while their arms remain empty. To find out more about Marine Toys for Tots program visit www.toysfortots.org. Several retail stores such as Best Buy, Disney and Toys 'R Us have donation gift sites in your community.