For many, the holidays are a time of big meals shared in a warm home, followed up by the exchanging of presents.

However, many families need help this time of year, and students can assist.

Students can help by donating to charitable organizations, deliver a meal to a family in need, donate clothes you’ve outgrown, donate food to a local food bank, send a care package to a solider, join a community service group and help with projects. It is important for students to reach out to those less fortunate and help them have a great holiday season, everyone deserves to be happy and full of joy on Christmas.

The following organizations provide easy ways for you to spread holiday cheer to those in need.

Thousands of service men and women spend the holiday season away from their family and friends. To cheer them up, send them a Christmas card. The card can be bought or hand made. Add a cheerful message to help spread holiday cheer their way. You could also deliver holiday cards to veterans. Take the time and thank our soldiers while sending them some holiday spirit.

http://www.redcross.org/support/get-involved/holiday-mail-for-heroes

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve are the leaders of the toys for tots program. The goal of the program is to help give less fortunate kids toys and presents on Christmas morning. Many families cannot afford to buy their children presents. Lets help and donate toys so that those kids can have the Christmas they deserve. Every child deserves to have at least one present to open on Christmas morning and to feel special.

http://www.toysfortots.org

The traditional red kettle, that we have all seen, collects money to provide aid for needy families. They collect millions of dollars each year. The money that you donate would help provide Christmas dinner, clothing and toys for children in need, including families of prisoners. When you’re on your way out from shopping and you see the red kettle, drop in a few cents, a few dollars, it all adds up and helps.

http://www.salvationarmyphiladelphia.org/sharetoday/

Operation Christmas Child helps needy families supply toys for their children on Christmas. All you have to do is get an ordinary shoe box, decorate it, and full it with small gifts and toys. You can also create a box online and choose items to add in it.The box will be given to a child on Christmas to let them have the full experience of the holiday season . It will not cost you that much and will help an unfortunate child have a smile on their face on Christmas morning this year.

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/buildonline/

Children who have life threatening medical conditions mostly spend their time in and out of hospitals. The Make A Wish foundation wants to make their holiday special and grant them their one wish. Making their wish come true and letting them forgot about their illness is extremely important and will help them have an exciting holiday. Help make their wish come true, donate.

http://wish.org/ways-to-help