With Thanksgiving behind us and the rest of the holiday season fast approaching, many Melrose residents will soon be thinking about holiday charitable contributions. This year, several organizations very close to home could use some help. Below are six groups you might not know about―but should. We talked to them for you.

Helping Our Hungry

A Servant's Heart

Web site: http://www.faithchurchac.org/foodpantry

Address: Faith Evangelical Church, 200 Franklin St, Melrose

What it does: Distributes food (3000 items a month) to local families in need every Friday morning; hosts a community dinner the third Friday of every month.

What your contribution will go toward: Helping the approximately 160 local families who have asked the food pantry for help this year.

Biggest need: Gift cards (with receipt, please) of any denomination from Shaw's and Johnny's Foodmaster; non-perishable goods, including condiments, spaghetti, fruit cocktail, paper goods, and laundry detergent (please check all expiration dates!).

Non-monetary needs: Dependable, committed volunteers to stock shelves and check expiration dates.

For more information: 781.662.8226; donation drop-off locations: Northern Bank & Trust, Melrose City Hall, Milano Senior Center

Thanking Our Veterans

Melrose Rotary Club: Beyond the Label Soldiers' Fund

Web site: http://melroserotary.org/index.php

Address: 23 W Foster St, Melrose

What it does: Helps Melrose soldiers and their families adjust to the transition involved in serving and returning from overseas deployment.

What your contribution will go toward: Softening the financial blow that many families experience when a soldier must leave his regular employment to serve overseas.

Biggest need: Monetary contributions.

For more information: 781.665.0303

Caring for Our Kids

Melrose Sharing and Caring

Web site: http://www.melrosesac.org

Address: 4 Brookledge Rd, Melrose

What it does: Helps provide Melrose children with special needs with the materials and equipment they need to learn and thrive.

What your contribution will go toward: Making life easier for children with special needs and their families; recent grants have led to wheelchair ramps, participation in needs-specific summer camps, collateral materials for classrooms, targeted music lessons, and specialized playground equipment.

Biggest need: Funds to support the grant requests made by local teachers, administrators, and other residents dedicated to helping Melrose children with special needs.

Non-monetary needs: Energetic new members to join fundraising and grant committees and/or serve as officers; group meets five times a year.

For more information: 781.665.4717

Preserving Our Environment

Friends of the Fells

Web site: http://www.fells.org/

Address: PO Box 478, Stoneham, MA 02180

What it does: Preserves, maintains, and raises public awareness of the Middlesex Fells, a good chunk of which stretches across Melrose.

What your contribution will go toward: Providing preservation and education programming, including member-led Fells hikes for adults and children, trail restoration efforts, historical and cultural lecture series, and materials for Visitor Center.

Biggest need: Operational funding, to offset printing costs, office rent, Web site design and maintenance, and event planning.

Non-monetary needs: Opportunities abound and include leading hikes, writing for the organizational newsletter and Web site, assisting in the office, and planning large events.

For more information: 781.662.2340

Supporting Our Library

Melrose Public Library

Web site: http://www.melrosepubliclibrary.org/

Address: 69 W Emerson St, Melrose

What it does: Provides a lifetime's worth of reading, entertainment, and programming to Melrose residents of all ages.

What your contribution will go toward: Funding library programming, including adult and children's workshops and classes, and the acquisition of newly released books and technology.

Biggest need: Unrestricted monetary gifts that can be used toward purchasing new materials, which are always a pressing need; purchases from the library's Amazon wish list; additional giving opportunities exist through the library's Gift Program.

Non-monetary needs: Volunteers willing to commit to a training program and help with a variety of circulation-related tasks.

For more information: 781.665.2313

Protecting Our Furry Friends

Melrose Humane Society

Web site: http://melrosehumanesociety.org/

Address: PO Box 760668, Melrose

What it does: Provides foster home and important medical care for stray, sick, and abandoned cats in Melrose and the surrounding area, and helps animal control officers find medical care and boarding for local stray dogs. Animals are never euthanized.

What your contribution will go toward: Sponsoring spaying efforts to help fight feline overpopulation, vaccinations, medical testing and treatment, and the "Guardian Angel" fund, a program that finds long-term homes for non-adoptable cats.

Biggest need: Monetary donations to support spaying and other medical costs.

Non-monetary needs: Families who are interested in adopting cats who need a "forever home."

For more information: 781.662.3224