Many of you have contacted me asking how you can get involved with charity/volunteer work this holiday season, so here are some of my recommendations:

New York Cares Coat Drive (December 1-31): Consider hosting a coat drive by setting up a donation site in your lobby, office, church, school cafeteria (I did this last year), or just stop by a donation site near you with your gently used coats (no other items are accepted, so leave the sweaters, hats, etc at home).

Toys for Tots (thanks to readers Amy and Kimberly for writing in about this): You can donate online or drop off toys at a campaign site near you.

Operation Santa Claus (I wrote about this wonderful organization earlier): You can donate or pick up a letter and answer it yourself; either way, you’ll make a needy child’s holiday season that much brighter.