Give the best gift you can this holiday season – your time. With the holiday season in full swing, days can seem shorter with more responsibilities stacking up every day. However, let’s not forget the reason for the season, to show love to others. I urge you to give your time and talents this season in charitable ways to create a happier Christmas season for all .

There are many great service opportunities and initiatives around Chicagoland such as the annual Chicago Bears’ Coat Drive that we heard about during the Junior High Leadership Conference. This organization is collecting coats for anyone that may need one during the frigid Chicago winter.

You can donate coats at a Jewel-Osco near you. This wonderful initiative is a great one as it can show the warmth of the Christmas season literally and figuratively. The collection will continue through February 28.

Another great opportunity to give during the holiday season is through an initiative called Stuff a Stocking, where you have the opportunity to purchase gifts for adults and children in residential housing. Everyone wants to wake up to presents on Christmas morning – and you can make that joyous feeling happen for those individuals.

An amazing service organization called Night Ministry located in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood is a wonderful opportunity to provide actions of love during this holiday season. You can assist people struggling with poverty or homelessness by volunteering to serve a meal at their soup kitchen. You also can donate hygiene and baby care kits for those who are in need of them.

So give the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season, the gift of love. You’ll be surprised how your actions can transform the lives of others. Now that is a Christmas miracle.