May 5 being Giving Tuesday, my inbox has been filled with emails from worthy charities reaching out for funding.

This year’s appeals take on additional urgency give the state of the economy, stock market volatility and what could be a decline in giving.

Among the more recent items that caught my attention was a $5,000 gift from Saalex CEO Travis Mack to Ventura County Food Share as well as a $25,000 gift from the James Cox Foundation to Santa Barbara County’s Food Bank. Cox was Franklin Roosevelt’s vice president and was the founder of Cox Communications.

California Lutheran University is mixing things up a bit, holding its annual giving day on May 6. But Kidstream, Cabrillo Economic Development Corp., The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County and United Way organizations are all among those whose fundraising efforts are focused on May 5.

Support your favorite charity any way you can.

• Henry Dubroff is the editor of the Pacific Coast Business Times.