It is getting to be the time of year when nonprofit agencies seek your help. Actually, nonprofits need your help all year long. Unfortunately, this also is a time when fewer people are giving to nonprofits. I hope this is the situation in places other than Clallam County.

Why do nonprofits need your help? Nonprofits work to help needy families or causes but usually have very low costs to do this. They also usually don’t have income they can plan on using other than what is donated to them.

Many nonprofits attempt to reach their fundraising goals by writing grants. This is a time-consuming and competitive way to try to come up with funds. Few agencies can get by with only the funds they receive from writing grants.

So most agencies ask people who know about them for contributions. They depend on people like you and me to raise the money they need to provide the services they provide.

United Way is seeking your help. Donations to this group go to a large number of nonprofits. Groups they fund include the American Red Cross, Boy & Girls Clubs, Concerned Citizens, Dungeness Valley Health and Wellness, First Step, Forks Abuse, Healthy Families, Lutheran Community Services, Parenting Matters, Reach Out and Read, Salvation Army and others. Currently there are over 24 partner agencies. They also fund 2-1-1, Great Beginnings (parenting classes) and the Literacy Council which gives free books to children in the county. Even donations to non-partner agencies can be given through designated donation to these groups given to United Way. Non-partner agencies like food banks, Habitat for Humanity, NAMI, the Humane Society and others are worthwhile groups.

Other agencies are asking for your help. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula is seeking help. Parenting Matters Foundation and First Step always are needing help. But what kind of help do all of these groups want?

Certainly, they are seeking money. But money isn’t the only thing. They frequently need help from volunteers or donations of items they can raffle or sell. Even donations of items they need such as computers, printers, food, baked goods and others are needed to keep operating.

Pick a group or an agency you are interested in helping. Call them to find out what kind of help they might need. Call United Way and ask what help they need. The Clallam County Literacy Council needs money but it also needs volunteers to help distribute books, check in books, organize book contests, help non-readers and a lot more.

You can volunteer for meetings or for whatever part you are interested in helping with. You really can make a difference.

There are a great many people in Clallam County who really need help. When you see that the majority of the elementary schools in the county have over 40 percent of their families who qualify for free and reduced lunches, it gives you a quick way to see the number of families whose income is severely restricted. These are families who need help. When you go to the food banks and see the people in need of additional food for their family, you see more families in need of help.

Giving is a way of helping people who need it. It is a way of sharing. Your contribution doesn’t have to be a great amount. Giving any amount helps someone.

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and director of Parenting Matters Foundation. Reach Martin at pmf@olypen.com or at 681-2250.