Fashionable giving

The holidays are often full of fashionable forks in the road: What in the world does “holiday festive attire” mean? Does Santa’s workshop have better inventory of Christian Louboutins or Jimmy Choos? How short is too short for the company Christmas party?

This year, however, presents and parties can seem excessive, as even Marc Jacobs and Vogue’s parent company Condé Nast forgo holiday parties in light of the sputtering economy. The recessionistathe more fiscally responsible BFF of the fashionistais feeling the pinch, and it isn’t from five-inch heels.

Holiday shoppers aren’t the only ones affected by the economy. Local nonprofits, strapped for funds throughout the year, are worried the holiday season’s traditionally high volume of donations won’t match up to increased need.

“Donations go through the roof during the holiday season,” said Christy Simmons of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. “We’re able to provide four meals for every dollar we receive, but that still doesn’t keep up with the increase in need we’ve seen.”

The Food Bank, which serves 34 North Carolina counties, counts cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, rice, pasta, soap and infant products as some of its most-needed items. Pop-top cans are preferred, in case families in need don’t have can openers.

The Food Bank supports many food pantries in the Raleigh area, including the Salvation Army of Wake County and the Wake County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which face similar situations. The Salvation Army has seen a 35 percent increase in demand over the past year, and the SPCA hopes its goal to provide homes for locally abandoned animals won’t be adversely affected.

“The animals don’t know we’re in a recession,” said Mondy Lamb, marketing coordinator for the SPCA. “It’s harder for people to adopt when money is tighter, so right now it’s really a ‘wait and see’ situation.”

The organization’s 18,000-square-foot facility, a testament to modern sheltering, utilizes special “condos” for animals with special needs, puppy tubs that allow better interaction with children, and behaviorally matched playgroups, all designed to increase pets’ adoptability.

But because it’s funded entirely by donations and maintained largely by a volunteer staff, Lamb hopes the mission of the organizationand the irresistibly cute faces of rescued animalswill continue to open up hearts and wallets.

Local boutiques also realize that in times like these, shoppers are looking for higher returns on their dollars than in previous years. Wares from Durham’s Vert & Vogue come with the added value of providing unique, environmentally responsible clothing and accessories.

“It’s hard to find clothes made from recycled materials at the right price points,” said Madira Hurley, who co-owns the Brightleaf Square boutique with her husband, Ryan. “I think men and women can find that here.”

Hurley, a native Parisian, keeps plenty of chic, investment-worthy pieces in stock for both sexes. Coats, scarves, sweaters and jewelry are crafted from bamboo, recycled wool, cashmere and even plastic bottles, and are perfect for responsible gifting.

In the spirit of giving and receiving, we dressed staff, volunteers and animals of these three Triangle charities in the latest winter wear from Vert & Vogue and Raleigh’s Galatea Boutique. And just for good measure, we threw in a few silly, cheesy Christmas sweaters from Goodwill perfect for those “Tacky Christmas” holiday parties.

Holiday help: How to give back

Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina
3808 Tarheel Drive, Raleigh, 875-0707
www.foodbankcenc.org

• Pick $15 ornaments off the new Raleigh Marriott City Center’s Giving Tree through Dec. 25. The hotel, at 500 Fayetteville St., will donate 100 percent of the proceeds to the Food Bank.
• Toast the holidays at Bar Posta, located inside the Marriott City Center, with specialty holiday cocktails like the Peppermint Martini on the menu through Dec. 25. The Food Bank will receive $1 for each drink purchased.
• Organize a food drive for your church, school or company with help from the charity’s Web site, which has downloadable forms and signage, tips and suggestions for a successful drive. E-mail a food drive manager at FoodDrive@foodbankcenc.org or call 865-3049 for more information.

Salvation Army of Wake County
215 S. Person St., Raleigh, 834-6733
www.keepthebellringing.org

• Volunteer or donate money to help fund programs for the entire year. The iconic Salvation Army kettles are scattered across Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, and you don’t have to own a Santa suit to help out.
• Take a breather from Facebook and MySpace and join www.mysalvationarmy.org, a social networking site launched to give volunteers, donors and staff a place to connect and share ideas.
• Shop for cheap at the Salvation Army thrift store at 205 Tryon Road in Raleigh (or, for those in Durham, the store at 3167 Hillsborough Road).

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Wake County
200 Petfinder Lane, Raleigh, 772-2326
www.spcawake.org

• Sponsor an orphan kitten, orphan puppy, senior cat or senior dog for $50. Printed in-house on an order-by-order basis, each sponsorship includes a card, certificate and photo tag and ribbon.
• Volunteer in a variety of departments. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, but there are special tasks for children 17 and younger.
• Purchase “Rescued: 2009,” the SPCA calendar with pictures and stories of dogs and cats rescued in Wake County, for $12.

Inter-Faith Council for Social Service
110 W. Main St., Carrboro, 929-6380
www.ifcweb.org

• For more than 40 years, the IFC of Orange County has served the unmet needs of Orange County. Today, its services include a community kitchen; a shelter for homeless men, women and children; and a food bank. Orientation classes for prospective volunteers occur monthly.

Triangle United Way
1100 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 112, Morrisville, 460-8687
www.unitedwaytriangle.org

• Operating Trianglewide and focusing on health, education, income and safety, the United Way works with 80 area agencies to ensure that resources are distributed to the communities that need them.

For more Triangle charitable services, visit 4ourCommunity’s Triangle Charitable Needs Network and Triangle Non-Profit Online.