The holiday season is in full force and plenty of places around central Arkansas are offering ways to give back to those less fortunate.

Here is a look at how you can help serve the community:

Salvation Army

  • Christmas Distribution Center: Help prepare the nonprofit's distribution center this holiday season and assist with handing out Angel Tree gifts to parents of thousands of children. Must be 16 years or older. Click here to sign up.
  • Ring a bell at a red kettle: Ring the bell at The Salvation Army's Red Kettle outside local stores in the community to help support The Salvation Army with our largest fundraiser of the year. These funds provide food and shelter for the homeless, assist with utilities and medicines for needy families, and support Christmas programs for the Central Arkansas area. A Salvation Army representative will meet you on location with the bell, apron and kettle. Feel free to bring a friend, sing carols and have fun. Click here to find a location to ring the bell.
  • Volunteer at the Angel Tree: Help give Christmas joy to more than 5,000 children in central Arkansas. They need volunteers to help donors through the "Angel adoption" process at local malls. This involves tracking angels that have been adopted and returned as well as accepting donated gifts for Angel Tree recipients from Nov. 23 through Dec. 15. Select a mall of choice here.
  • Feed a meal in a shelter on Thanksgiving: Serve the Thanksgiving Meal on Thursday, Nov. 28, to the homeless at the Salvation Army shelter at 1111 W. Markham St., Little Rock. While there is not a need at this time, spots could open up. Click here to check!
  • Stuff a Christmas stocking: If you would like to fill stockings for needy children this season, stop by the Salvation Army offices at 1111 W. Markham St., Little Rock, to pick up stockings and instructions. Stockings must be filled and returned before Dec. 10. If you email your request to Jennifer at jennifer_washington@uss.salvationarmy.org in advance, she can have your kit assembled an ready for pick-up when you arrive. Click here for more information.

And don't forget about Salvation Army's Christmas Kick-Off at 10 a.m. today (Nov. 22) at McCain Mall, 3929 McCain Blvd., North Little Rock. Help them kick off The Salvation Army's Christmas season with Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe; local broadcasters Mallory Hardin of KARK 4, Christina Munoz of KATV 7, Dawn Scott of KTHV 11 and Donna Terrell of FOX 16; and a performance by the Sherwood Elementary School youth choir.  The First Lady will read a Christmas story to children gathered around the Angel Tree, and local broadcasters will ring the kettles and share a few words about what they are thankful for in 2013. Captain Roger Glick will announce the nonprofit's Red Kettle Fundraising Goal for 2013.

Need more information on how you can help? Call Kathy Barbeire at (501) 374-9296.

The United Way of Arkansas

United Way Children's Christmas Luncheon 2013: The Heart of Arkansas United Way and Playtime Pizza are teaming up for the 9th Annual Children’s Christmas Luncheon, happening on Thursday, Dec. 12. More than 450 underprivileged children from the Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pulaski County Special School Districts will enjoy a festive holiday event. Each child will receive a wrapped gift, a stuffed animal and a Playtime Pizza game card from United Way with a yummy Playtime Pizza traditional Christmas lunch. The United Way is looking for volunteers at the event and is asking for monetary gifts to the Children’s Christmas Luncheon. For every $5 game card donated, United Way will match it with a $5 game card, which will provide each child with a $10 game card. Donate here. For more information on the Children’s Christmas Luncheon or to volunteer, contact Jo Lynn Short at (501) 376-4567 or jshort@heartaruw.org.

Our House

  • Stocking Stuffer: Make a huge impact this holiday season by becoming a Stocking Stuffer Hero. Each "Stocking" lists items requested by residents and shelter programs. Items include toiletries, supplies for the shelter and gifts for residents. Stockings come in $100, $250 and $500 increments. Call Niki Hitt at (501) 374-7383, ext. 214, to help.
  • Adopt-a-family: Make this year a positive experience for a homeless or near-homeless Our House family. Items will be distributed to parents so the children can enjoy a real holiday experience. The budget is dependant on the size of the family and Our House can work with you to connect you to the best family. Call Ashley Morgan at (501) 374-7383, ext. 240, for more information.
  • Host a holiday drive: Help Our House provide basic care by hosting a holiday drive. Past drives have included a "White Drive" for paper products, as well as drives for children's craft items, gift cards and much more. They can work with you to come up with great ideas that best fit your group and their need. Call Hitt (see Stocking Stuffer) to get it set up.
  • Serve a meal: Help Our House serve one of their 77,000 meals this year. Meal servers are expected to provide the ingredients for lunch or dinner in the shelter. Prepare, serve, and then sit down to eat and interact with shelter families and individuals. The budget for lunch is typically around $100 for lunch and $300 for dinner. Call Jackson Bittner at (501) 374-7383, ext. 230 to sign up.
  • Holiday Honor Cards: The perfect gift for the person who has everything: donate to Our House in honor of someone you love. Donations can be made in any denomination. Honorees will receive a Holiday Thank You card to notify them of your gift. Donations can be received online here. Contact Kristyn Willis for more information by phone at (501) 374-7383, ext. 228.

See how else you can serve Our House here.

Stuff the Sleigh

Stuff the Sleigh is a non-profit organization that reaches foster children of central Arkansas and beyond with Christmas presents and more. Whether you collect new toys for the annual toy drive in December, or your company sponsors a college scholarship for a foster child, you can help. If you are interested in becoming involved in Stuff the Sleigh by volunteering or becoming a sponsor, email  alicen@stuffthesleigh.org. Get more information here.

Toys for Tots

The U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each and distributes them as Christmas gifts to needy children. You can donate new unwrapped toys to any Toys R Us or Babies R Us location. They also have a weekend (Dec 6 - 8) where the Marines are at collecting toys, with a big parade at the KSSN Studios parking lot. Click here for more information about the event and how you can help.

Little Rock Compassion Center

The Compassion Center does more than toys-- they also provide food, clothing and shelter if needed. On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday (Nov. 28), the Compassion Center will feed 1,000 prepared meals and will also distribute food boxes to 500 needy families. Each box will contain a three-day supply of food. If you would like to be a part of this ministry of serving food to the needy, you can leave your donations at the center, 3618 W. Roosevelt Road, Little Rock. Every year, they also have a Christmas toy giveaway for children, a Christmas dinner and holiday food baskets. Call (501) 296-9114 to see how can you volunteer or donate.

CARE for Animals

Have fun volunteering with Santa and pets while helping the Little Rock's CARE for Animals raise money to continue rescuing pets in need. Volunteers are need for 9:30 a.m.- 4:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 and 11:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Cammack Village City Hall, 2710 N. McKinley, Little Rock. Email care@careforanimals.org if you're interested in volunteering.

Know of other ways to serve? Share in the comment box below!