It’s the giving season; of that, there’s no doubt. Thoughts are wrapped around finding the perfect gift for that special person. Sometimes it’s easy. For others, it’s more difficult. What does one get for the person who has everything?

The flip side of that is: what does one get for the person who has nothing?

There are plenty of children who go without in Beaufort County: without food, without clothing, without shelter. These circumstances are not of their own making, and their needs cannot be met without help.

There are many local organizations that make sure this happens every Christmas — that children in need have the coat to keep them warm on a wintry morning; they’ll have at least one toy under the tree to make Christmas a little brighter. These donations are anonymous to the children who receive them, but knowing someone cares enough to see to their needs is a great gift.

From the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree — in which children’s wish lists are hung as ornaments on the tree, waiting to be plucked off and fulfilled by a generous stranger — to a similar effort through Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children, there are ways to give to the least fortunate among us. Coldwell Banker Coastal Rivers Realty is in the midst of its 11^th year collecting coats and donations to purchase coats for those who need them most, and Washington (noon) Rotary, in partnership with many local agencies and businesses, has launched this year’s Toys for Tots campaign, collecting toys for children ages infant through 12 years old.

It may be hard to find a gift for the person who has everything, but these organizations, and the need in Beaufort County, make it easy to find the perfect gift for a child.

A donation of this kind is more than just a coat or a toy or a pair of shoes. It’s the gift of caring about one’s community — a gift that’s always worth giving.