U.S. Marine dropping off toys in front of a store for a toy drive (© Sandy Huffaker/AP Images)
A U.S. Marine drops off donations at a Toys for Tots drive in Vista, California, in November. (© Sandy Huffaker/AP Images)

Every year millions of Americans give their time, talent and donations to the needy over the winter holiday season.

Here are some ways people in the U.S. contribute at this time of the year:


Men and women sorting bags of food to be given away during a food drive (© Wilfredo Lee/AP Images)
(© Wilfredo Lee/AP Images)

Every December, the Latin Chamber of Commerce of the United States runs the Christmas Basket Food Drive in Miami, like this one in 2016. The organization says the drive provides food for more than 3,000 needy families each year.


Man putting donation into Salvation Army red kettle (© Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
(© Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

In San Francisco, a volunteer with the Salvation Army helps collect money in December for the nonprofit’s Red Kettle Campaign, which helps provide shelter and meals for the homeless and hungry and other help.


Volunteers working at a Habitat for Humanity building project (© Mark Humphrey/AP Images)
(© Mark Humphrey/AP Images)

All year round, volunteers across the country with the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity help build homes like this one, shown in Nashville, Tennessee, in October.


Man helping a child pick out clothes in a store (© Andrew Weber/AP Images)
(© Andrew Weber/AP Images)

David Montgomery, a player with the Chicago Bears professional U.S. football team, helps children from Inner City Boys & Girls Club select holiday gifts in December at a local mall. A JCPenney Co. department store provided gift cards for the children to buy the presents.