The season of giving is among us! Everyone is hitting up the stores for the best gifts and breaking out a new roll of wrapping paper as Christmas time nears.

Christmas season is a time for giving and for being thankful for what you already have; for some people aren’t as fortunate. There are parents who cannot afford gifts for their children and there are children who are spending the holiday without their parent(s). There are people and children spending this season of wonder in the hospital. These poor people and children don’t have much of anything. Luckily, there are charities out there that make it their goal to ensure these people have a special Christmas.

You’ve all seen those men dressed as Santa Claus standing outside in the freezing cold during the month of December ringing their bells and asking for donations. Those people are from the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is a charity that collects donations to help aid families, seniors, and the homeless which can help provide dinners, clothing, and toys for those in need. So think of them and what they do for the community when you come out of the store after holiday shopping and donate that spare change. You can make donations in front of many stores, into the red kettles or online at salvationarmyusa.org. Spare change can make a huge difference.

If you go to a church, you may have seen a small tree with paper angels hanging on them. Those paper angels carry the holiday wish list of children whose parents are imprisoned. Angel Tree is a program from the Prison Fellowship. You and your family can take an ornament from the tree and give what these kids asked for. If you’re interested and your church isn’t registered with the Angel Tree program, you should talk to your pastor and log on to prisonfellowship.org to sign up so you can make a difference in a family’s life.

Many of you have heard of Toys for Tots. This program is run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves which makes it their mission to gather new, unwrapped toys for less fortunate young children in the three months before Christmas. Distribution takes place in areas where reserves league detachment groups are located. If you would like to make a donation, you can find a local donation bin near you. If you would like to request donations, you can go to toysfortots.org and request a toy.

The Make A Wish Foundation is an organization that sickly children are granted a wish because they’ve been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. These kids are dealing with being chained up to machines all day and being pinched and poked regularly, so doing what they’ve always wanted to do or going places they’ve always wanted to go would change their lives. You can make the difference by donating, funding a wish, or becoming a sponsor. If you would like to refer a child, you may do so on wish.org.

There are many other charities that need your donations during this holiday season. They are trying their best to fulfill everyone’s wishes, but they need your help. So think about these families before Christmas comes. When you have the chance, donate what you can because anything will make a difference even the change between your couch cushions. This holiday season, please consider making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.