Looking for ways to reach out and show God's love this Christmas? Here are five easy—but meaningful—ideas:

1) Ask your parents for a goat this Christmas. Or two chickens. Or five ducks, some clean water tablets, or a bag of seeds. After they get over their confusion about having two chickens strutting around the house, explain that you're actually talking about World Vision. The goat, the chickens and the rest will support a needy family with food and a source of income. For more information and gift ideas, check out the World Vision Gift Catalog at www.worldvisiongifts.org.

2) Put more than shoes in a shoebox. Operation Christmas Child delivers shoeboxes full of gifts to brighten the Christmas of Children around the world. To see what kind of impact one box makes, read how a shoebox changed Claire Peterson's life. You can make a big difference in a life just by stuffing a shoebox full of toys, hard candy, hygiene items, hair clips, and other small gifts for an impoverished child. Make sure to follow the directions online and donate seven dollars to cover shipping.

3) Join the Marines … in a toy drive. Launch a toy drive in your neighborhood to benefit the U.S. Marines' Toys for Tots. Every year, the Marines deliver presents to American kids whose families can't afford Christmas gifts. Distribute a flier to let your neighbors know about your Toys for Tots drive and suggest some toy ideas. You can grab some images to brighten your flier here. After you've collected toys, deliver your presents to a local Toys for Tots Drop Location.

4) Go shopping! If you're planning to shop online this Christmas through iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, GAP, Target, Walmart, Macy's and many more online stores, then you can give money to worthy causes just by shopping. Really. By using GoodSearch.com, any online store you buy from will donate a percentage of your purchase price to the organization of your choice. Some worthy organizations participating include World Vision, Feed My Starving Children, Invisible Children, Samaritan's Purse and Compassion International. eBay is one of the biggest donors—they give between 25 to 37.5 percent of your purchase price. To use this service, go to the GoodShop page, enter the organization you'd like to help and select your store. It's that easy.

5) Get rid of the extra change. With Feed My Starving Children—a Christian humanitarian organization that sends nutritious meals to third-world countries—a little money goes a very long way. Just fifteen cents provides a meal for a starving kid. In fact, one child can get one meal a day for an entire year for only $55. If you have a little extra change, consider donating it to put food in the stomach of a starving child. Also, for some really cool Bible quotes on hunger, check out this link from the Feed My Starving Children website.

There you have it. Five ways to make a difference this Christmas. I hope you'll try at least one of these ideas. And I hope your holiday will be full of joy as you reach out and share God's love.

Catherine, a high school junior, writes regularly for Ignite Your Faith magazine.

Read more from 'Witness & Missions'

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