It's that time of year again.

Every shopping trip is accompanied with a walk past a stand asking for donations to charity. It's normal for people to absentmindedly toss a few coins in a bell-ringer's bucket as they walk by, or to write a check to a charity.

It's the "holiday spirit" to empty out your pockets for others who are more needy. This year, however, pockets have less in them than usual for local charities.

Despite more food drives held this season, charities report the amount of donated goods is lower than in other years.

This is because of people giving all their generosity to Hurricane Katrina relief.

People are running out of money and goods to donate after a harsh hurricane season that included one of the biggest natural disasters to hit the United States.

Hurricane Katrina victims are a worthy cause — they need all the help people are generously giving them. They need to rebuild their lives from scratch.

But the tremendous publicity for the Hurricane Katrina devastation — heart-wrenching ads and images — gives the south an advantage.

Which would you give to: the victims of a major disaster that's all over the news or a food bank in East Lansing you've never heard of or seen?

Hurricane Katrina victims need money, and so do many in Michigan. Homelessness and poverty do exist here, too.

College students have limits on what they can spare, but everyone has something lying around they don't really need, or even want. And it doesn't have to be just around the holidays or after a major disaster.

You should donate yearlong.

It's not that people are more generous or willing to donate around the holidays, it's more likely that it's easier to give when there are ads, drop-boxes and bell-ringer buckets at every storefront.

People aren't cold-hearted the rest of the year, they're just lazy. When it's right in front of them, they're more apt to give.

If charities were more visible post-holidays, when the donations start to dry up, people should want to give.

Here in East Lansing, there is nothing near the magnitude of a devastated city or population. What should be realized is people anywhere who need donations aren't on a timetable. Their need is yearlong. The donations need to be coming in continually.

You don't need to give your pantry away, but should give what you can. Even one donation per person given to a local charity would be enough.

It would make a world of difference for someone who, otherwise, wouldn't be able to celebrate the holidays.

Just because people in need aren't always in the spotlight doesn't mean they don't need help.