The holidays are an important time for giving back to your community and supporting local organizations in need. Below are some ideas for volunteering this holiday season, and for continuing to help into the new year and beyond. In addition, organizations like the United Way and VolunteerMatch can connect you to local groups looking for volunteers, and help you find an opportunity that speaks to your skills and passions.

Make giving personal by sponsoring a family in need.

Helping a struggling family is powerful proof that giving a little can go a long way. Many local organizations let you adopt a family. Family-to-Family is a national nonprofit that will pair you with a family that you can support with monthly groceries and other essentials. The organization encourages families to write to each other, saying: We hope that by creating a bond of friendship between families who would otherwise never have had the opportunity to connect, lives will be changed for the better, even if ever so slightly.

Put the gift of a warm meal into the hands of senior citizens.

Volunteering with a local Meals on Wheels program, delivering pre-made food to homes, is a simple and satisfying way to make sure senior citizens in your community get a nourishing meal.