They say, "It is better to give than to receive." This is absolutely true--even more so around the holidays. With the media blasting you from all sides with ideas of what to buy your family, sometimes it’s nice to think about what you can give or do to help others.

There are always great places in your area where you can donate your time, goods or money to help those in your community. Churches are great places to start, or you can contact your local government office to find out if they have a list of local charities you can assist. Spending the day at a food kitchen, donating groceries to a food bank or collecting warm clothes for a mission in your area are excellent ways to give back to those less fortunate. It is also a wonderful way to spend a day as a family. Not only do you get quality time together, your children will learn a valuable lesson at the same time.

For the larger charities, it is difficult to know which are the best to choose. There are so many available, and it can be overwhelming to anyone not familiar with the system. To help with this issue, we have compiled a list of the ones we think are the best for this time of year.

Toys for Tots ~ This is an excellent organization that collects new toys for children who would otherwise not receive any. The United States Marine Corp is the group behind this worthy cause, and they work tirelessly each holiday season to make sure every child receives a gift.

Secret Santa.org ~ This website is an excellent resource on the Internet. It is a database of toy drives across the country. Put in your zip code to find the one nearest to your home.

Salvation Army ~ Everyone is familiar with the red buckets and cheerful bell ringers on the corners during the holiday season. You can read about their work and donate online through their link.

Red Cross ~ This organization works year-round to help anyone who needs it. They show up after storms have devastated areas—like Florida after the hurricanes—and they are over with our soldiers in Iraq and other areas around the world. Their work is invaluable to anyone who has ever been on the receiving end. You can read more about what they do and ways to contribute on their website.

Operation Shoebox ~ This is an excellent way to send gifts to all the soldiers away from their families during the holidays. You can look on their website for the name of a soldier you can cheer up this holiday season. It will mean the world to them when they receive your kind gift!

Give Kids The World ~ This magical place in Florida is where critically ill kids can come to have a the family vacation of their dreams! Working with other wish granting organizations, GKTW provides a place for the children and their families to stay while they are visiting Florida.

Make A Wish ~ This amazing group grants wishes for critically ill children and their families to help take some of the pressure away during their treatment. MAW takes what could be the saddest time in a family’s life and replaces it with a magical memory no one can ever take away.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ~ St. Jude is a research hospital and treatment center unlike any other. They treat patients regardless of their family’s ability to pay. Doctors at St. Jude work relentlessly to find better treatment options and cures for their patients. The facility itself gives the patients and their families hope for a brighter future!

The charities listed above are by no means the only ones available. They are but a few of the worthy causes you can support. For a more comprehensive list of charities you can back, read this article from SmartMoney.com -- Get the Most Out of a Charity.

No matter who you decide to support this year, please know your donation will go a long way to help others in need. We wish you and your family all the best for a healthy and happy holiday season!

Julie is a wife and mother from the Chicago area. She loves donating items to charities and looks forward to buying gifts for those in need every year.