10 Charities to Help Over Christmas

The holidays are a time for giving, and there are a multitude of charities that open up during this time to help those less fortunate than us. Many are even open year-round, but have a holiday focus during the Christmas season. Ten of some of the best of these charities are listed below.

- Toys for Tots. No matter what town or city you live in in the U.S., you've most likely heard of this program that helps to make sure that all children receive something for Christmas, whether their families can afford it or not. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is the nationwide foundation that works to supplement the local charity branches, to further make sure that there are enough donations to go around for all unfortunate kids. With this, you can either head to a local donation station and donate a new toy, or go through the website and donate a toy, money, or even a car if you so choose.

- Operation Christmas Child. Similar to Toys for Tots, except this organization works to provide gifts at Christmas to destitute children around the world - in the form of a shoebox. To donate to this charity, all you need to do is get a standard-size shoebox and fill it with some small toys and maybe some candy, and even well-needed items such as school supplies and hygiene products. The website provides instructions on how to fill the box and what is accepted or isn't. Most cities throughout the United States have drop off centers, usually located at churches.

- Alternative Gifts International. With this unique program, you can choose exactly where and what your donated money goes to. Whether you want to donate safe water solutions in Tanzania, provide schooling for children in China, or shelter for a homeless family in the U.S. - among many other choices - with AIG you will know just how your money is spent. Even better, you can choose to give a loved one a great Christmas gift by donating in their name and giving them the certificate that tells them such.

- Angel Tree is another unique organization that connects children with their parents who are in prison. Basically, volunteers buy gifts for the children in the parent's name, so the child will not feel like they are forgotten during Christmas, while providing support and guidance in the form of the gospel. Many times a party will also be thrown for the children and their families where the gifts will be given. Angel Tree is run by churches, and you can even begin a charity of it yourself by speaking to your church leader ahead of time. The Angel Tree organization provides full support to help those looking to do this.

- The National Holiday Project is an elderly-focused organization to provide comfort and company to those who are confined to nursing homes, retirement homes, and hospitals around Christmas. Many people have to stay in such places over the holiday, and most of them don't receive any visitors at all. This project helps to change that and ease the pain of loneliness throughout the Christmas season.

- Christmas SPIRIT Foundation. A fairly new program that formed in 2005, this foundation is geared towards helping needy families throughout the U.S. over the holidays. As the organization is still new, they are constantly working towards building new programs, and donations are greatly appreciated.

- My Two Front Teeth. This organization is very similar to Toys for Tots, as it also focuses on giving gifts to less fortunate children who may get little to nothing for Christmas. But they also collect donations, which they pour back into the community even after Christmas is over, to further help out children and families who need it.

- Interaction is a year-round grouping of over 150 smaller organizations that work to provide relief from disaster and poverty around the world. You can help by donating anything you can.

- Hunger Plus, Inc. is another year-round agency, focusing on raising hunger awareness and works to solve problems with starvation, safe water, health, education and housing. Not only does Hunger Plus use donations to solve all kinds of hunger problems, but they also give people the opportunity to get back on their feet and help themselves as well as others in need.

- Save the Children. This is one of the world's leading organizations in providing hunger and poverty relief to children and their families around the world. Their approach is to "give someone a hand, not a handout." Wherever they reach, they also work to teach those in need how to feed and care for themselves once again.