Want to get in good with the man in red? (And help your community while you’re at it?) This week's issue of the Northern Express - sister publication of The Ticker - features multiple stories highlighting ways to give back and make a difference in the lives of others this holiday season.

In "One Good Deed a Day for December," writer Kristi Kates provides 25 suggestions - one for each day December 1 through Christmas - for supporting good causes and bringing holiday cheer to your neighbors in the community. From adopting a struggling family so they have gifts under the Christmas tree to volunteering for a shift as a kettle bell ringer for the Salvation Army to buying gifts that help support charities, this handy guide is chock-full of ideas to help you give back.

In "International Good," Kates profiles charitable northern Michigan residents extending their reach well beyond our own borders. From Mancelona vet Dale Ackler - who's helping animals in India and Borneo - to Traverse City Nurse Aimee Albright and her team, who are caring for thousands of patients in the Philippines, these stories of local folks who are making a major difference in far-flung parts of the world are sure to inspire. And writer Patrick Sullivan shines a spotlight on Family Partnership in Traverse City, which is helping those struggling in poverty to develop long-term plans to achieve more economic stability and matching mentors with mentees in needs of financial, career and life planning guidance.

The "Giving Back" issue of the Northern Express is available to view online, or pick up a copy at one of nearly 700 spots in 14 counties across northern Michigan.