Lend a hand this holiday season with charitable drives in Atlanta

Volunteers gathered at the Dunwoody Municipal Court on Dec. 6 to wrap gifts for Dunwoody Police Department’s Christmas for Kids program. The event collects and gives new toys to needy children in Dunwoody during the holiday season. Devika Rao, doing.goodajc@gmail.com

This holiday season, share the love and give back to the community by participating in some of the many food, toy and clothing drives in and around Atlanta.

Through your contributions, you can help make the holidays a little brighter and warmer for children and families all over the metro Atlanta area.

Toys for Tots Atlanta. Nov. 29-Dec. 15. Many drop-off sites including all Georgia State Troopers County Offices, QuikTrips and Publix Supermarkets (starting in December.) Drop a new, unwrapped gift at a Disney Store and Disney will donate $5 to the program up to $1 million.  northatlanta.toysfortots.org.

One of the oldest programs bringing Christmas cheer to needy little ones, Toys for Tots makes it very easy to donate toys by providing many drop off locations. Check out the list, they’re everywhere! This program makes the toys available to other nonprofits and agencies to give to the kids they work with.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. through Dec. 17. At three CHOA locations: Children's at Egleston, Hughes Spalding and Scottish Rite. www.choa.org.

It’s tough on parents and children when a kid is in a hospital during the holidays. Help make it a little easier for families by donating gifts for patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Gifts must be new and unwrapped and delivered to the information desk at any of the three collection locations.

Children's Restoration Network's 2018 Twelve Days of Caring Toy Drive. Through December 12. 11285 Elkins Road, C-4, Roswell, 30076. 770-649-7117. www.childrn.org

Organize a toy drive at work, in your neighborhood, online or with your club or civic group. CRN can help with boxes, flyers and signs. The goal is a great Christmas for up to 4000 kids. You can also shop for and donate toys, gifts or gift cards yourself. Drop them off at the above address.

Lift Up Atlanta 2018 Christmas Toy Drive. Nov. 17 through Dec. 14, noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday – 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday - 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Drop toys off at Atlanta Rocks, 1019 Collier Rd NW, Suite A, Atlanta, 30318. Or bring them to the Phillip Rush Center, 1530 Dekalb Avenue, Atlanta, 30307 in the Annex Building (by Crossfit) on Dec. 15 between 2 and 5 p.m. 678-245-4622. www.liftupatlanta.org/christmas-toy-giveaway-party.

Don't let Santa leave out less fortunate kids this year. Help Lift Up Atlanta make a child's dream come true by donating toys to their 2018 Christmas Toy Drive. The goal is new toys for 500 kids. They’re looking for volunteers too.

Clark Howard meeting fans at the Wal-Mart in Marietta near the Big Chicken during his toy drive for foster children on Sunday, December 13, 2015. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/ rho@ajc.com

Credit: Rodney Ho

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Credit: Rodney Ho

Clark's Christmas Kids Gift Drive. Walmart locations hosting this year's Christmas Kids Toy drive:

• Nov. 29: Ashford Dunwoody - 4725 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta 30338, 1- 8 p.m.

• Nov. 30: Mansell Rd - 970 Mansell Road, Roswell, 30076, 1- 8 p.m.

• Dec 1: Woodstock - 12182 Hwy 92, Woodstock, GA 30188, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• Dec 1: Peachtree City - 2717 GA-54, Peachtree City, 30269, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• Dec 7: Windward Pkwy - 5200 Windward Parkway, Milton, 30004, 1-8 p.m.

• Dec 7: Buford - 3250 Sardis Church Rd., Buford, 30519, 1 - 8 p.m.

• Dec 8: Pleasant Hill - 2635 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth, 30096, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• Dec 8: Cumming - 1500 Market Place Blvd, Cumming, 30041, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• Dec 9: Cobb Pkwy - 210 South Cobb Parkway, Marietta, 30060, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Dec 9: Lilburn - 4004 Lawrenceville Highway NW, Lilburn, 30047

You can also donate online here: www.clark.com/christmaskids

Atlanta's Society of St. Vincent de Paul helps coordinate the collections each year.