The holidays are all about giving, right?  There’s a lot you (or your company or organization) can do to add some holiday magic to another’s life.  For example, Coca-Cola is teaming up with consumers this holiday season to donate 100,000+ toys to the Toys for Tots program.  You can also encourage your children to get involved in the magic of giving to others by taking the lead–after all, children learn well by example!

There are several ways you can help make holiday dreams come true for kids and families this season.

1.  Donate money to reputable charities (if you’re not sure whether a charity is legitimate, do a little research before making a contribution).  Examples include donations to Toys for Tots, children’s hospitals like St. Jude, or non-profit organizations such as those where your contribution buys gift kits, like the MercyCorps child health kit.  

2.  Donate toys.  You can search for state-by-state toy donation information at the Toys for Tots site.  

3.  Donate food.  Contact your local food bank and find out what items are most needed this holiday season.     

4.  Let others wrap your gifts.  Charities, like the Red Cross, often offer gift-wrapping services in exchange for a small contribution which supports the needy.

5.  Assemble care packages for soldiers or participate in fund drives for families of soldiers.  There are a number of non-profit organizations that share the mission of supporting soldiers and their families this holiday season and need donations.

6.  Volunteer your time.  Whether you sing holiday carols at an elderly care facility or bake cookies for a sick neighbor, the gift of your time will surely light up the holiday season.