LA Charities, Giving Tuesday 2012: How You Can Help Out Locally This Holiday Season (PHOTOS)

After indulging during Thanksgiving, Black Friday and then Cyber Monday, it's about time we give back to those who have less. Hence, 'Giving Tuesday.'

We love the concept but we also think the holidays in general are an important time to give. Many families affected by the recession won't be able to afford much of a celebration. Others, living on the streets, will be enduring cold temperatures. And in Los Angeles, we have a greater homeless population than any other U.S. city.

Luckily, LA is also home to many compassionate, effective charities that work tirelessly for those who have not. And they need your help, whether it be monetarily or through volunteering. Click here for an extensive database of charities in your area.

Take a look at a few of our favorite LA charities, and give what you can:

• Homeboy Industries

  Homeboy Industries assists high-risk youth, former gang members and the recently incarcerated with a variety of free programs, such as mental health counseling, legal services, tattoo removal, curriculum and education classes, work-readiness training, and employment services. Homeboy employs these youth at its businesses, which include the Homeboy Bakery, Homegirl Caf? & Catering, Homeboy/Girl Merchandise, Homeboy Farmers Markets, The Homeboy Diner at City Hall, Homeboy Silkscreen & Embroidery, Homeboy Grocery and the soon-to-open Homeboy Cafe & Bakery in the American Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. <a href="http://www.homeboyindustries.org/how-you-can-help/">Click here</a> to find out how you can help.

• Downtown Women's Center

  The Downtown Women's Center serves homeless women with permanent supportive housing, meals, personalized case management, an on-site medical clinic, health workshops and screenings, computer literacy, government benefits advocacy, support groups, job counseling, and self-expression classes. <a href="http://dwcweb.org/involved.htm">Click here</a> to find out how to help.

• 826 LA

  826LA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. It provides after-school tutoring, evening and weekend workshops, in-school tutoring, help for English language learners, and assistance with student publications. <a href="http://826la.org/WP/2012/11/27/mark-today-as-giving-tuesday/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mark-today-as-giving-tuesday">Click here</a> to find out how to help.<a href="http://826la.org/"></a>

• Inner-City Arts

  Inner-City Arts provides elementary, middle and high school students with art education in the heart of Skid Row. <a href="http://www.inner-cityarts.org/how-you-can-help.php">Click here</a> to find out how you can help.

• Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club

  The Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club is a safe place for kids and teens to play sports, learn to swim, improve their academics, and give back to the community. <a href="http://www.labgc.org/">Click here</a> to find out how to help.

• Midnight Mission

  Located in the heart of Skid Row, the Midnight Mission is a center for the homeless of LA. The Mission provides counseling, education, training, job placement, food, shelter, clothing, personal hygiene needs, medical care, and 12-step recovery programs. <a href="http://www.midnightmission.org/help.asp">Click here</a> to find out how to help.

• People Assisting The Homeless

  PATH is a family of agencies working together to end homelessness throughout Southern California by prioritizing housing. PATH agencies provide supportive services, permanent housing development, support for homeless families and community engagement. <a href="http://www.epath.org/site/main.html">Click here</a> to find out how to help.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/la-charities-giving-tuesday-2012-photos_n_2199969.html

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