Giving feels good.

I learned this particularly well growing up in a family that didn’t celebrate holidays – Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s Day or even birthdays.

So my five siblings and I had to get creative. We picked a random day of the year, grabbed a saw from our father’s tools and made our hike into the woods to find a perfect pine tree (usually just a couple feet tall so we could carry it home). Once we cut it down, we brought the tree into the house, propped it up and then each drew a name from a hat.

During these “giving days,” we scrambled around the house and looked for something that would make a nice gift – a t-shirt, pair of earrings, a favorite doll. We wrapped our gift in newspaper and placed it under the tree.

When we opened our presents, this is what I remember: the sound of paper tearing and the anticipation of seeing my sister or brother’s face.

I also remember how good it felt to give. That’s what my family’s “holidays” were made of.

This holiday season, there are many opportunities around Kirkland for the community to give.

Kirkland Interfaith Transitions in Housing (KITH), an organization that assists Eastside individuals and families who are facing a homelessness crisis, has kicked off its “Light the Darkness” grassroots event.

Community leaders have the opportunity to host an event of their choice – a bike ride, tailgating party before their favorite team’s game, a Sudoku-thon – through Jan. 10 to benefit the organization. Each leader commits to a $100 donation to KITH when they sign up, to invite at least nine of their friends to donate to KITH at the event, and to send photos from the event to KITH with the donations they collect.

On Feb. 2, community leader event hosts will be invited to gather with a guest, KITH staff and the organization’s Board of Directors for a happy hour celebration and results from the events will be announced. To sign up, contact Christine Addison at 425-576-9531, ext. 104, or e-mail christinea@kithcares.org.

Hopelink, which has served homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities since 1971, is also accepting holiday donations of food, new toys and new clothing at its Kirkland/Northshore branch through Dec. 19 at 11011 120th Ave. N.E., Kirkland. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. For information, contact Teresa Andrade at 425-250-3025.

For those who are unable to give monetarily, Hopelink will begin accepting new volunteers this January. To volunteer, RSVP for an orientation, which takes place at various Hopelink locations around the Eastside. The next orientation in Kirkland begins Wednesday, Jan. 6 from 7-8:30 p.m. Sessions run the first Wednesday of every month at 11011 120th Ave. N.E. For more information, visit www.hope-link.org.

Or, for those who prefer pets to give to, “Paws and Give Thanks” to Meow Cat Rescue in Kirkland by donating canned pet food or an unopened bag of dry cat or dog food. During December, adoption fees will also be reduced by $20 to those who donate food, which will be distributed through Hopelink. The rescue is located at 10600 N.E. 68th St. Call 425-822-6369 for information.

Whether you celebrate holidays or make a giving day of your own, I encourage you to get creative, look around for opportunities to help others and give what you can. You’ll feel better for it.