If you’re as depressed as I am about the outcome of the election, here’s a way to feel good again: volunteer. Do something for someone else, something that will make the world a little bit more bearable.

Here are some suggestions:

November 15 is National Philanthropy Day. Organize a canned food drive for Caritas of Austin or the Capital Area Food Bank.

Send a package to a soldier overseas. If you want it to get there by Christmas, you have to mail it by November 15.

Volunteer for Hearts and Hoofs, an organization that brings miniature horses hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, special-needs classrooms, Alzheimer’s clinics and other places where healing and compassion are needed.

Build a house for a low-income family with Habitat for Humanity.

Plant trees with TreeFolks. They have a volenteer event scheduled for the morning of Saturday, November 13.

Help The Children’s Environmental Health Institute with their website.

Help out at Austin Family House, a residential treatment program for chemically dependent women and their dependent children. Call Sandra Eames at 441-2086 for more information.

Help out at ALLGO, the Austin Latino/Latina Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Organization. Assist their staff with services including bilingual, multicultural safer sex and reproductive health presentations; outreach and support groups for gay/lesbian African-Americans and Latinos; support groups to discuss self-esteem, racism and other relevant issues; and intake with HIV+ clients of color with referral to other services.

Or go to the United Way or VolunteerMatch and find something that suits your fancy.