Making the holidays fun and festive is almost everyone's desire. If you have money, all you have to do is go to the department stores and shop for your loved ones. Your biggest problem will be wrapping all the presents. It's another story if your family is struggling financially. The holiday season is adding stress rather than excitement. You still can celebrate with your family through the generosity of many charitable organisations.

Adopt-a-Family matches needy families with individuals or corporations. Call the local Corps office to apply. Referrals also can be made by social workers. The sponsors of this program are asked to give two or more new gifts for every member of the family and provide food for up to a week. In some cases, the sponsors help the family pay the utility bills.

The Salvation Army National Headquarters

615 Slaters Lane

P.O. Box 269

Alexandria, VA 22313

800-728-7825

salvationarmyusa.org

Angel Tree reaches out to children with parents in prison. Every year, it coordinates with local churches to collect and distribute donations before Christmas. The group also provides spiritual and emotional support.

Prison Fellowship

Angel Tree

44180 Riverside Parkway

Lansdowne, VA 20176

800-552-6435

angeltree.org

The Toys for Tots foundation partners with local non-profit organisations in distributing toys to needy children. Contact the foundation's headquarters to find out which non-profit organisations in your area participate in the program.

Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

18251 Quantico Gateway Dr.

Triangle, VA 22172

mtftf@toysfortots.org

toysfortots.org

Local food banks have been providing meals to state schoolchildrenn from low-income families. At the end of the week and before the holiday vacations, the children receive a backpack full of food to bring home. The families also can go to the local food banks to get food boxes for the holidays.

Feeding America

35 East Wacker Dr.

Ste. 2000

Chicago, IL 60601

800-771-2303

feedingamerica.org

The Association of Jewish Family and Children's Agencies is a nondiscriminatory organisation. Its local agencies has been providing financial assistance, holiday meals and gifts for low-income families during the holidays. It has a membership of more than 130 Jewish Family and Children's Agencies all over North America. Every local agency has its own holiday program. It could be Embrace-a-Family Holiday Basket Program, Get Caught Caring or Kinder to Kinder. Ask the local representatives about their holiday assistance for the needy families.

Association of Jewish Family and Children's Agencies

5750 Park Heights Ave.

Baltimore, MD 21215

800-634-7346

ajfca.org