From Alabama charities, volunteering ideas, and gift ideas, our holiday content still packs a wallop after the dressing, gift wrapping and your aunt Cathy's casserole is long gone. View all the stories and details >

After the coffee, after the presents, after recycling the wrappings, a look at Google Trends tells a lot. The top 25 hottest Google searches this Christmas morning are... all about iPod. See the full list >

Andrea Wynn looks at how Montgomery Area Nontraditional Equestrians is helping children with disabilities reach new goals, one gallop at a time. Read more >

Just north of the Gulf’s high-end beach communities, there’s a section of Alabama where many people are struggling to survive. When you’re traveling down I-65 to the coast, it’s easy to just think about the destination. But the route itself is worth experiencing beyond just a quick stop for gas. Read more of Andrea Wynn's story >

Check out Thicket's guide to holiday gift giving- with reasonably priced, and nice gifts from around the state. See the gifts! >

Though many struggling Alabamians are grateful for the charity of others during this season, the experience of publicly accepting gifts from strangers—gifts that were chosen for them—can be humiliating. The Shelby Baptist Association has developed an innovative program that protects clients’ confidentiality while giving them the freedom to “shop” for themselves and their families. Read more >

Small, affordable and infinitely amenable to anyone’s tastes, books make an ideal holiday gift for kids and adults alike. Thicket books editor Todd Keith share a few favorites. See all the reviews >

Thicket contributor and renowned food writer Katherine Cobbs gifts us with some of her favorite holiday recipes with some local ingredients. See recipes >

Giving is about more than donating money—giving is also about sharing one’s time and talents to help others. Meet a local basketball coach whose efforts keep female athletes in school. Read more >

Birmingham was named the most charitable city in the U.S. So, what makes "The Giving City" so generous? Barry Wise Smith digs deeper, talking with the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham to find out. Read more >