Local nonprofits, schools and community groups have launched a wide range of drives and volunteer efforts across the city, offering residents dozens of ways to make an immediate impact. Opportunities to help with basic necessities in holiday spirit are listed below.

Food

Open Cupboard, Basic Needs, Friends in Need and Valley Outreach food shelves are stretched to their limits trying to feed our food-insecure neighbors. Your online contributions allow them to buy fresh and staple foods, and your donations of nonperishable food provide support to our community.

City of Woodbury Community Food Drive. Through Dec. 5, donate at City Hall, the Community Tree Lighting and M Health Fairview Sports Center. Special requests include pasta, proteins, paper goods and paper bags.

East Ridge National Honor Society Food Drive 4200 Pioneer Drive. Through Dec. 4, drop off food for families just inside the school’s main entrance.

Gifts

Woodbury Community Foundation Winter Clothing Drive. Together with SoWashCo Cares, this drive benefits students in District 833. Until Dec. 20, collection boxes will be available at more than 30 sites in Woodbury. The drive is seeking new and gently used items, especially snow pants, waterproof gloves and boots for elementary school kids, and winter coats and waterproof gloves for older students.

Pet Evolution 429 Commerce Drive is collecting pet food, treats, toys and supplies at its store until the end of November. Donated items will be given to local food shelves so that struggling households will be able to keep their pets fed. Shoppers who donate to the collection will receive a 10 percent discount on any purchases made.

A Place of Hope-MN Toy Drive collects new toys and stocking stuffers for kids ages 0 to 18 in Washington County through Dec. 11.

Toys for Tots. American Legion Woodbury Post 501 and Talamore Senior Living of Woodbury are joining forces to collect new, unwrapped toys for disadvantaged children in the metro area. There are two collection sites: Talamore Senior Living and Valley Creek Mall, near Keys Cafe. Toys will be accepted until Dec. 12.

Bridge to Basics provides essential hygiene items to nonprofits serving folks in need. With rising food costs and the SNAP “pause,” it is even harder to afford basics like toilet paper and deodorant. By dropping off full-sized hygiene necessities in the barrel at the Woodbury YMCA, you can support the health and dignity of your neighbors. Make your donation even sweeter with holiday-scented hand soap or candy cane ChapStick.

Fostering Love Project Wish Lists support Washington County kids in foster care. Sign up to give one or more gifts.

NAMI Holiday Gift Drive is an annual holiday gift drive for children and adults with mental illnesses who will be hospitalized or in residential treatment over the holiday season. Drop off at their St. Paul office or send from the registry by Dec. 18. Drivers are needed on Dec. 20 to deliver gifts.

Holiday Hope provides toys and other gifts to families in the Stillwater school district experiencing challenges. Toy donations, online funding and volunteer support are needed.

Lasagna Love. Sign up to make one or more lasagnas and deliver them to a local family. Help keep bellies full and hearts warm during the holiday season and beyond as part of a national movement.

My Very Own Bed believes that children should be “nestled all snug in their beds,” but sadly too many Twin Cities kids are sleeping on the floor. You can help sweeten their dreams by making fleece-tied blankets, funding a bed, donating new sheets and stuffed animals, or volunteering to help assemble and deliver beds.

Homeless youth served by Lutheran Social Service could use a little joy this holiday season. Your gifts from their wish lists, dropped off in St. Paul, can really help.

Hats & Mittens has more than 44,000 folks with cold hands and heads waiting for your new and gently used hats and mittens. You can make them, buy them or find them in your closets. There is even a Woodbury drop-off site.

Gifts for Seniors fills the wish lists of thousands of older adults in the metro area. You can order from online registries or leave a gift in the blue barrel at the Woodbury YMCA, because the holidays aren’t just for children.

The Potato Head Project 7700 188th Lane NW, Nowthen, MN 55303 supports families with babies weighing less than 2 pounds in the NICU. While anytime in intensive care with a micro-preemie is tough, the holidays are extra stressful. Gift boxes containing new Potato Head toys bring cheer and a way to measure babies’ growth. Send Mr. or Mrs. (or both) to the address above for a bit of potato encouragement for tiny babies and their families.

Operation Comfort. Make fleece tie blankets or donate new blankets to patients at Gillette Children’s Hospital. Arrange drop-off by Dec. 12.

Gatherings

K9s Holiday Gift Drive 2150 Radio Drive. Sunday, Nov. 30, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., in the parking lot across from the Public Safety Building. Join the public safety dogs, Santa and Mrs. Claus as they collect unwrapped toys, holiday gifts and gift cards for families in crisis. If you can’t meet the dogs on the 30th, the public safety staff will happily accept your donations from Nov. 17 through Dec. 5 and make sure they are delivered to Tubman Alliance.

Champions Support SoWashCo Cares 1750 Weir Drive. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 4-6 p.m., at the SoWashCo storefront in Valley Creek Mall. Help sort and support the community winter clothing drive, bring ready-to-eat or microwavable meals to nourish students over winter break, and make holiday cards. Afterwards, gather at Birdi Golf for appetizers and connections.

Ring Bells for the Salvation Army. Multiple sites and shifts are available in Woodbury to encourage folks to fill a red kettle. Register online.

Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus 429 Commerce Drive. Sunday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Pet Evolution. Bring your pets and even your people to benefit the Woodbury Police K9 Fund. Register in advance and skip the waiting line. Suggested donation is $20.

Holiday Gift Program. Tubman Center in Maplewood needs volunteers to sort, organize, wrap and shop for gifts for families in crisis. Holiday helpers are needed through Dec. 12.

CPKC Holiday Train benefits Friends in Need Food Shelf 7064 W. Point Douglas Road S., Cottage Grove. Saturday, Dec. 13, 5:15 p.m. A lighted train and music roll into town, benefiting local food shelves. Please bring monetary donations or nonperishable items for folks served by Friends in Need.

Hennepin Healthcare Child Life Toy Drive 715 S. 8th St., Minneapolis. Sunday, Dec. 15, 10 a.m.-noon, in the circle driveway. The sick and seriously injured children at HCMC and the tiny babies in the NICU need toys to distract them as they heal. Drop off new toys or order from their wishlist on Amazon. It’s hard to be in the hospital at Christmastime, but we can make sure that Santa comes to kiddos snuggled in hospital beds.

Toy Shop Distribution. Help metro area parents choose toys for their children. Shifts are four hours long on Dec. 18-20 and 22-23 at the Salvation Army warehouse in New Brighton.

Face to Face Holiday Meals 130 E. 7th St., St. Paul. Friday, Dec. 19, noon. Drop off specific prepared menu items for homeless youth so they can enjoy festive meals together at Safe Zone.

Sparklerama Party. Minnesota Children’s Museum needs volunteers over age 14 on Dec. 30 for a kid-friendly New Year’s Eve party.