The holiday season is a time for family, friends, and giving back to those in need. Whether you volunteer at your local soup kitchen or bake Christmas cookies for your neighbors, spreading holiday cheer makes the season a little brighter for everyone. Here are seven ways to give back this season.

1. Organize a canned food drive.

Contact friends, roommates, family, and members of the community and ask for donations of any unwanted food before the end of the year. You'll get the usual, like beets and lentil soup, but aim for staples like pumpkin pie mix, potatoes, green beans, and other holiday favorites. Many local food banks and homeless shelters will put on holiday feasts, and the Tastes of the Holidays can often be a hard find.

2. Volunteer at an animal shelter.

During the holidays, the animals want to feel the holiday cheer as well. Stop by your local pet store and pick up a few blankets and toys and spend a couple hours a week playing with some cats and dogs. Many animal shelters will allow you to walk the dogs and clean out the animal pens. A little bit of love goes a long way.

3. Donate winter clothes to the Salvation Army.

In the winter months, the Salvation Army clothes the homeless through donated clothes, sleeping bags, and other winter gear. Look through closets, ask your friends for clothes they haven't worn, and bring them down to your local branch of the Salvation Army.

If you live in Corvallis, you can also donate to Community Outreach Inc. They provide shelter and medical services for homeless families and individuals.

4. Volunteer at a Boys and Girls Club.

The Boys and Girls Club of America has been providing free after school care since it was first established as the Boys Club in 1860. The provide educational programs and career training, character development and leadership skills, and many other programs.

5. Give to DonorsChoose.org.

DonorsChoose is a website that allows donors to go online and sponsor public school teachers and their projects. When teachers need supplies for a project or for their class room, they can go online and post their project. When the project is fully funded, DonorsChoose sends the supplies to the classroom. Students in need can start the new year with fresh school supplies!

If you feel like getting involved, here's a link to my friend Kim's project: http://www.donorschoose.org/Ms.Campi?utm_source=dc...

6. Pick up some children's toys and donate them to Toys for Tots.

Since 1947, Toys for Tots has donated 469 million toys to children across the United States. Beginning in 1995, Toys for Tots became an official mission of the United States Marine Corps.

To get involved, or to find your local Toys for Tots program, visit http://www.toysfortots.org/donate/toys.aspx

7. Run errands for neighbors and family members in need.

You can help out on a smaller scale by simply running holiday errands for family and neighbors who are too busy to do them themselves. This could include wrapping Christmas presents, picking up groceries, dropping relatives off at the airport, or anything that helps make the holidays a little easier.