Need an 11th-hour Christmas gift-giving idea? Serve others this season

'Tis the week of Christmas, which means you likely have shopping lists to be checked off and finalized, meals to prepare, gifts to wrap and homes to clean for hosting loved ones and friends.

During the harried and frenetic pace that has become the final days before Christmas, the Deseret News recommends "10 ways you can help others this holiday season."

At least one recent national poll shows Americans appear to be in a more charitable mood this season than they were a year ago.

Among local organizations and service institutions you might offer time or resources to this season are:

United Way of Salt Lake

United Way of Utah County

Volunteer centers around the state

lds.org, Humanitarian Services

Community Action Services

The Road Home

The Family Connection Center

Intermountain Catholic

Crossroads Urban Center

Food banks in Utah

Globus Relief

Christmas Box International

Mentors International

For an even more online giving experience, try nonprofit groups such as GlobalGiving and TisBest, which estimate they have raised millions of dollars for charities by selling donation gift cards.

To find a charity you can trust, visit www.charitynavigator.org.

As always, donations around the country can be received at any local Salvation Army Red Kettle location, or online.

Do you know of other organizations and services to share? Suggest in our comments area, or drop an e-mail to: mreece@desnews.com