FILE-James McDuffie, left, of the Anaheim Fire Department and Justin Collins, a fire cadet, carry a box of donated toys to an Orange County Transportation Authority bus at the Spark of Love Toy Drive at the Honda Center in Anaheim in 2018. (Photo by …
This holiday season is a time for spending special moments with loved ones and can serve as an opportunity for generosity.
Donations can come in various forms and whether it's a meal, clothing, or toys, these are some of the charities you can drop them off for distribution in your communities.
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Food donations
Feeding America
Feeding America provides hunger relief to communities across the country. The organization has resources, including where to find food banks in your area.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army utilizes local community support for holiday giving, and if you’re interested in making a donation, you can contact a local center for food assistance or donation opportunities.
No Kid Hungry
No Kid Hungry is a nonprofit organization that centers on ending child hunger and runs holiday campaigns to provide meals for kids year-round.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross accepts donations for the holidays and has several ways you can make food donations to communities nationwide.
Operation Home Front
Operation Home Front is a nonprofit organization that provides resources to military and veterans and their loved ones. The organization’s Holiday Meals for Military program is their way of saying thank you for the service and sacrifice that you have made for the country. You can learn more on how to donate and volunteer here.
United Way
The United Way has food assistance programs, pop-up markets, and volunteer hours. You can learn more by visiting UnitedWay.org/local to find one in your area or you can go to the organization’s holiday pages and search "How You Can Help," "Holiday Giving," for specific campaigns for food assistance.
USO
USO is accepting donations that go towards meals for troops and care packages to send them essential items. For a limited time, a donation to the USO will be matched 4X by a group of donors. Click here to learn more.
Clothing donations
Goodwill
Goodwill accepts a wide range of clothing and household goods, supporting job training programs nationwide. Donations can be made at local centers, and hours of operation may vary by location. For more information, click here.
Planet Aid
Planet Aid is accepting donations for the holiday season and consumers can drop off clothing and shoes in the yellow bins in your community. For more information on how to donate and finding a bin in your area, visit the company’s site here.
One Warm Coat
One Warm Coat is a national organization focused on collecting and distributing new and gently used coats. There are several ways you can make donations, including organizing a coat drive or finding a local coat drive in your community that accepts gently worn and new coats. Click here for more information.
Toy donations
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is accepting toy donations and has diverse ways you can give this holiday season including donating online, finding a local chapter to take part in a toy drive, or donating toys at drop box locations at Marine Toys for Tots chapters in your community. You can find more information here.
United Way
The United Way also has toy drives, pop-up markets, and volunteer opportunities. For more information, visit UnitedWay.org/local to find a facility in your community or you can go to the company’s holiday pages and search "How You Can Help," "Holiday Giving," for campaigns for toy drives.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is holding a toy drive through its Angel Tree program and local toy shops. Families register to receive gifts, and donors pick "angel" tags from trees (often in stores) to buy specific toys for children, as highlighted by Salvation Army stories. The Salvation Army Angel Trees are typically located in malls, local stores, businesses, and online at the Walmart Angel Tree Gift Registry. You can find more information here.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, Toys for Tots, Goodwill, the United Way, USO, Planet Aid, and One Warm Coat websites. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.