The holidays are about giving as much as receiving, and supporting charitable causes is one way to celebrate the season. This noncomprehensive list of nonprofits in the Katy area offers suggestions for local charitable donations.

Animals

courtesy Halter Inc.[/caption] Halter Inc. provides equine therapy for children with disabilities. The facility took on three feet of water during Tropical Storm Harvey and will need approximately $20,000 for repair work. Donations can be made through the website; checks can be made out to “Halter Inc.” or cash are also accepted. 17410 Clay Road, Houston 281-508-6501 www.halterinc.org Katy Prairie Conservancy works to preserve and educate the public about the Katy Prairie in west Harris County, offering tours, wildlife and native plant information. Monetary donations can be made online through the website and while shopping on Amazon Smile. The nonprofit also offers a “planned giving” program for those interested in including the conservancy in their will or giving gifts of stocks and securities. 31950 Hebert Road, Waller 713-523-6135 www.katyprairie.org courtesy Special Pals Shelter[/caption] Special Pals Shelter, a no-kill facility, offers temporary shelter and medical treatment to homeless animals, as well as affordable veterinary services for animals. Monetary donations can be made through the nonprofit’s website, cash, gift cards to pet and hardware stores, and checks made out to “Special Pals Shelter.” Contributions may also be made via Amazon Smile by selecting “Special Pals” as the receiving charity. Accepted items include pet food, cat litter, toys, cleaning supplies such as Dawn soap and unscented bleach, blankets and dog sweaters. 3830 Greenhouse Road, Houston 281-579-7387 www.specialpalshouston.org

Community Service

Cinco Ranch Lions Club, part of the international Lions Club community service organization that offers programs for children, accepts cash and check donations mailed to its P.O. box in Katy. It also accepts new and used eyeglasses. P.O. Box 116, 515 S. Fry Road, Ste. A, Katy, Texas 77450 www.facebook.com/cincoranchlions Katy Elks Lodge No. 2628's primary mission is to support children’s programs and raise money for community causes. The organization accepts cash or checks made out to “Katy Elks Lodge No. 2628” and either mailed or placed in the dropbox at the back of the building. Gift cards for the holidays or Tropical Storm Harvey recovery are also accepted. 1050 Katy Fort Bend Road, Katy, 77493 281-391-2763 http://www.katyelks.org/

Developmental disabilities

The Arc of Katy provides camps and programs for children and adults with disabilities. The group relocated after its old space flooded during Harvey. Donations can be made through the nonprofit’s website, through PayPal at www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/145624, or via check made out to “The Arc of Katy.” P.O. Box 6133, Katy, Texas 77491 832-754-9802 www.thearcofkaty.org

Healthcare

courtesy The Ballard House[/caption] The Ballard House provides temporary housing for families and caregivers while their loved ones are receiving medical treatment in the area. The facility is closed for Harvey-related repairs. Donations can be made online, in cash or by check made out to either “The Ballard House” or “Cinco Charities.” 21421 Cinco Park Road, Katy 281-717-4670 www.theballardhouse.org Christ Clinic of Katy provides healthcare to the uninsured and those without governmental assistance in the Katy area with help from volunteer medical staff. Monetary donations are accepted through shopping rewards programs at Kroger, Amazon Smiles and American Express. Online donations, cash and checks made out to “Christ Clinic” are also accepted. The clinic also accepts unopened, over-the-counter and non-narcotic prescription medications, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, diabetic supplies, office supplies and durable medical equipment. 25722 Kingsland Blvd., Ste. 101, Katy 281-391-0190 www.christclinickaty.org Project C.U.R.E., which is headquartered in Denver, collects medical supplies for clinics in 137 developing nations. Houston has one of the nonprofit’s four national distribution centers and sends out a cargo container of supplies every week. Donated new and gently-used medical supplies, such as wheelchairs, hospital beds and crutches, can be dropped off while staff can pick up large items. Monetary donations are accepted through the charity’s website, in cash or by checks made out to “Project C.U.R.E.” Medication donations are not accepted. 8251 Kempwood Drive, Houston 832-251-2489 www.facebook.com/projectcurehouston

Impoverished/homeless

Clothed by Faith provides new and gently-used clothing to those in need around Katy. The group accepts monetary donations through its Facebook page, in cash, gift cards and checks made out to “Clothed by Faith.” The nonprofit accepts “very gently-used” clothing as well as new socks, underwear and pajamas. Their most urgent needs include children’s and men’s clothes. 802 Dominion Drive, Ste. 100, Katy 281-676-8837 www.clothedbyfaith.org courtesy Hope Impacts[/caption] Hope Impacts connects homeless and under-resourced individuals with assistance for physical, financial, emotional and spiritual needs. Donations are accepted via cash, gift cards, checks payable to “Hope Impacts,” and online. Clothes and household items can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mailing: 1450 W. Grand Parkway S., Ste. G447, Katy, Texas 77494 Physical: 802 Dominion Drive, Ste. 300, Katy 713-705-7884 www.hopeimpacts.net

Music and arts

courtesy Katy ARTreach[/caption] Katy ARTreach provides mentoring and art-related programs to at-risk children, special needs groups and senior citizens. Donations are accepted online, by check made out to “ARTreach,” and through Amazon Smile by designating Katy ARTreach as the receiving charity. 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Ste. H120, No. 262, Katy 832-544-0239 www.artreachtexas.org Katy Rocks provides low-cost music education and access to instruments for children. Monetary contributions are most needed currently and can be made online, in cash, gift cards and via checks made out to “Katy Rocks.” 22514 Guston Hall Lane, Katy 832-768-0508 www.katyrocks.org

Women

Fort Bend Women’s Center is a shelter that provides assistance to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Donations can be made online, by check made out to either “Fort Bend Women’s Center” or “FBWC,” or in cash. The nonprofit’s donation center at 2721 FM 1463, Ste. 800, Katy, accepts clothing, furniture, toys, baby clothes, and electronics and appliances that work. Tube TVs are not accepted and large donations can be picked up by calling 281-344-5777. P.O. Box 183, Richmond, Texas 77406 281-344-5750 (information), 281-342-4357 (hotline) www.fbwc.org/get-involved/donate/ courtesy Pregnancy Help Center[/caption] Pregnancy Help Center caters to women facing unplanned pregnancies. It assists with their physical, emotional and spiritual needs while offering free ultrasounds and pregnancy tests. Financial contributions are most needed because the facility had to make Tropical Storm Harvey-related structural repairs. Money can be donated through the website or by checks made out to “Pregnancy Help Center.” Baby wash and baby shampoo are also needed. 1450 E. Summitry Circle, Katy 281-578-0078 phckaty.org

Youth and education

Boy Scouts Texas Skies District, which serves Katy ISD and is part of the Boys Scouts Sam Houston Area Council, accepts donations via the Mobile Cause app by texting “SHACFOS” to 41444 or by using the link https://app.mobilecause.com/form/KaFrXg and designating the Texas Skies district. Check contributions can also made out to the regional “Sam Houston Area Council” and mailed to the council office, attention of Texas Skies District. In-kind donations of camping supplies are also accepted and the council will hold a food drive in January. 2225 North Loop West, Houston 713-659-8111 www.samhoustonbsa.org Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council accepts donations monetarily via the web portal or by checks made out to either “GSSJC” or “Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council.” The website also details ways to contribute proceeds from outside purchases on Amazon.com, at Kroger and Randall’s stores and via an iGive.com account. To donate to the organization’s Tropical Storm Harvey relief fund, designate online contributions for the fund or check the website to make a troop-to-troop donation. 3110 Hwy. 59, Houston 713-292-0300 www.gssjc.org Katy ISD Education Foundation is the fundraising arm of Katy ISD and seeks to support classroom initiatives through teacher grants. The group also raised money for Tropical Storm Harvey relief within KISD. Monetary donations are accepted through the website and by checks made out to “Katy ISD Education Foundation.” Contributions can also be made by selecting the foundation as the receiving charity when shopping on Amazon Smiles or Kroger Rewards. 6301 S. Stadium Lane, Katy 281-396-6000 www.katyisdeducationfoundation.org Upbring Krause Children’s Center works to end child abuse by assisting and empowering youth, families and communities. Online donations, gift cards and checks made to “Krause Children’s Center” are accepted as well as new women’s clothing sizes 00-XXL, new women’s shoes sizes 7-11, twin-size bed-in-a-bag sets and large duffel bags. 25752 Kingsland Blvd., Katy 281-392-7505 www.krausechildrenscenter.org