A Time to Give : Many local organizations offer children an opportunity to help needy during holidays.

When children think of the holidays, helping others probably isn’t the first thought that comes to little minds. Television and society team up to teach children that the holidays are about receiving instead of giving, says Cathleen Brown, a Claremont psychologist.

It’s not too late to try to turn that thought around. This is the “perfect time” to help children realize that others are less fortunate than they are, Brown says. “Helping others gives them a deeper perception of what giving is all about.”

Organized opportunities for volunteering abound, especially for families whose children are in grade school or older.

One great way for kids is to work with the U.S. Postal Service’s Letters to Santa program.

The Postal Service never runs out of letters to St. Nick, says spokesman David Mazer. With seven days left till the big man takes flight, families can still trek to their regional mail center, comb through letters to the North Pole and choose one or more to answer. The post office will also select a letter and fax it or mail it to you. Families who fulfill a letter writer’s Christmas wish list can mail the package or deliver it in person.

“Normally, people go through the letters and pick one, two, three of the ones that touch their hearts,” Mazer says. “We do get letters at the last minute, and the Good Samaritans don’t come in as much then.”

To respond to Santa letters, contact the consumer affairs department at the post office in your area: Central Los Angeles: Lydia Jaramillo, 7001 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 586-1463. Orange County: Carol Samaniego, 3101 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 662-6215. Van Nuys: Stacia Crane, 28201 Franklin Parkway, Santa Clarita, (805) 294-6983 or (818) 718-0148.

These organizations also welcome children’s participation or will help find a group that does:

Adopt-a-Neighbor Food and Outreach: Children as young as 9 are welcome to help sort donated food and toys that will be packaged for delivery to needy families in Orange County. Teenagers supervise the younger ones as they stack and separate donations. Families also can offer to help pick up and deliver donations to the Mission Viejo organization. Needy families are still available for adoption, says executive director Cathy McCullough. The sorting will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Friday, and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday until the job is finished. 25651 Taladro Circle, Unit H, Mission Viejo. (714) 581-6802.

Shelter Partnership Inc.: About a hundred holiday and ongoing volunteer opportunities are listed with this nonprofit organization, which acts as a clearinghouse. Many agencies are open to help from children, says Ruth Schwartz, executive director of the group that serves Los Angeles County. To receive referrals for a specific geographic area, call 213-SHELTER.

Burbank’s Rose Parade Float: Children are welcome to help decorate “Momma’s Day Off,” the city’s 55-foot-long float, from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Beginning Dec. 26, decorating will take place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, says Pat Gunn, treasurer of the Burbank Tournament of Roses Assn. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult; those from 14 to 18 must be signed in by an adult. Wear warm clothes and expect to put the flowers on--that’s done at the last minute, Gunn says. The float is decorated at the Public Service Yard, 320 N. Lake St., Burbank. It is not necessary to call before showing up. (818) 840-0060.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving: Teenagers can volunteer to help get the year-end mailing out by labeling and stuffing envelopes. Ongoing opportunities for children 15 and older include putting together information packets for students and victims and updating records. The stuffing can be done at offices in Encino and near the Los Angeles International Airport, and also at home. Call (818) 325-0235.

Impact Online: Turn to the global community to make a difference in your own back yard. Impact Online, a Palo Alto nonprofit corporation, uses the Internet to match volunteers with local groups. Find them at https://www.impactonline.org.

*

Not all activities are right for families with young children. If your children are unable to volunteer to help an organization, try making ornaments, crafts or greeting cards that can be sent to organizations that will distribute them. This helps involve children with others and adds spirit to the holiday season.