PHOTO PROVIDED BY MOTE MARINE LABORATORY

Sea turtles, like this one, can be "adopted" through Mote Marine Laboratory's Adopt-An-Animal program. Giving gifts that help the community is an option this holiday season.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MOTE MARINE LABORATORY
Children of all ages line up to see Hugh and Buffet at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota. The two manatees eat $42,000 worth of lettuce each year. "Adopting" a manatee can help keep them well-fed.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHARLOTTE COUNTY
Family members and friends attend a tree-planting service in honor of a loved one through Charlotte County's Trees for Posterity program. Giving a gift like this honors loved ones and helps the environment.

SUN PHOTO BY CHRISTY FEINBERG, cfeinberg@sun-herald.com
Legacy bricks can be given as gifts during this holiday season in honor of loved ones and their pets. The bricks are displayed in the Legacy Garden at the Suncoast Humane Society in Englewood.

PHOTO PROVIDED
Ed Lamb creates pet portraits for donations of at least $100 to DeSoto County Animal Services.

SUN PHOTO BY CHRISTY FEINBERG, cfeinberg@sun-herald.com
This kitten at the Suncoast Humane Society can benefit by one of the many ways in which donations and gifts can be given during this holiday season.