As we get excited and prepared for this Christmas season, it is important to remember what it is all about- celebrating the birth of our Savior with joy and love to others. While gift giving is always fun and widely anticipated in basically everyone's households, maybe you should consider ways to spread the love and Christmas spirit to others in your community. Helping to make meals for others, or buying a gift for children on the Angel Tree, there are plenty of ways to help give back to your communities this year.

1. Operation Christmas Child

The worldwide gift exchange from the Samaritan's Purse is back for Christmas and ready for people to help! Not only can you buy presents for kids of all ages, but you can volunteer at Processing Centers around the US to pack and and send boxes to kids around the globe. Check out the Samaritan Purse website for more information on how to get involved in your local processing center.

2. Salvation Army

We've all heard the bell-ringers at Christmas time. You can volunteer your time to be a bell-ringer yourself, volunteer at a local Salvation Army location or even just donate to the cause when you see that classic red kettle.

3. Angel Tree

A program that has been embraced from both the Prison Fellowship and Salvation Army, the Angel Tree provides opportunities to give gifts to children in need in your local area. Find an Angel Tree near you and get to shopping!

4. Donate to a local food bank

The holiday season is the busiest time of year for everyone, and food banks are always in need of a helping hand or some food for the families they feed.

5. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter

Sometimes seeing the people you help face to face is much better than not. Volunteering at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter near you can give you this opportunity to meet some friendly new people and give them some company and a good meal.