Travis County Precinct 3 County Commissioner Karen Huber makes a compelling case in her column on this page about the spirit of volunteering this holiday season. Although anyone can justify not having sufficient time for volunteering, the holiday season provides the perfect opportunity to show goodwill by lending a hand to the countless nonprofit organizations throughout Austin who can use all of the help they can get.

In addition, volunteers can demonstrate to their children a potentially character-building lesson about the need to help others less fortunate.

Huber points out that the Travis County Web site is an ideal place for residents to go to find the volunteer opportunities that fit them best. But no one has to do a lot of searching because there are plenty of opportunities close to home.

One of these is Mobile Loaves & Fishes, which is based at St. John Neumann Catholic Church. The nonprofit founded in 1988 by longtime West Lake Hills resident Alan Graham and a few of his friends has rallied support of many other area churches of different denominations, which is proof that helping the area’s homeless and working poor has no boundaries. MLF needs help this weekend when it will be part of the Austin Homeless Resource Fair Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center located at 2100 East 3rd St. The Homeless Resource Fair is a one day event linking people who are homeless to agencies and resources that can assist them.

MLF’s needs for help continue throughout the entire year, but particularly through the holidays. To volunteer for MLF, contact the organization by telephone at 328-7299 or e-mail Graham at alan@mlfnow.org.

The list of nonprofits needing help is long, but another one that does the lion’s share of its fund raising through the holiday season is the Salvation Army. For an eye-opening volunteer experience with this worthwhile cause, contact Bob Cox by e-mail at Bob_Cox@uss.salvationarmy.org or by telephone at 634-5909. Of course, anyone who cannot volunteer but would like to help out can donate online at salvationarmy.org or during the Red Kettle campaign that will begin soon at a store near you.

Volunteering during the holiday season is difficult because it is a busy time of the year for everyone, but the rewards are well worth the effort.