As 2014 winds down, taxpayers are often considering how they can reduce their liability by making tax-deductible contributions to charitable organizations.

It’s a win-win since they pay less in taxes, and the charities to which they donate get much-needed boosts.

Recently, two local charities – the Beacon of Hope men’s shelter and Gateway to Discovery, which assists childless, single women who have been discharged from addiction treatment programs – became the beneficiaries of anonymous benefactors.

Both the Beacon of Hope and Gateway to Discovery have announced a donor has committed to giving $1 for every $1 raised by the end of the year, up to a total of $25,000 for each organization.

Chris Helton, president of the Gateway to Discovery’s board of directors, said the group had never received such a gift before.

“It’s a pretty awesome opportunity,” Helton said. “It’s unbelievable the great amount of support we’ve received from the community.”

While the Beacon of Hope has previous experience with matching donations, Roe said, “it’s a real big deal for us. It encourages people to give.”

Most of us can’t afford to make such sizable gifts. But thanks to the generosity of people whose names we won’t know, our own contributions can go twice as far in helping homeless men and recovering women in our community.

It’s always a good time to give to charity; now it’s a great time.