6 ways to spread the Christmas cheer this year

As the most wonderful time of year rolls around again, spread the holiday cheer and support the Singapore Red Cross, Boys Brigade and other worthy causes.

Boys' Brigade Share-a-Gift, organised by Boys' Brigade

The annual Christmas gift exchange with friends and family is a time of joy and love. Share a little of that happiness to the needy by taking part in the Boys' Brigade Share-a-Gift food hamper deliveries.

From now until Dec 2016, volunteer your vehicle and time to bring food hampers of rice, cooking oil and other necessities to low-income households. Every day at 10.30am and 2pm (excluding Dec 24-26), drive down to Boys' Brigade Headquarters at 105 Ganges Avenue to collect the hampers. Each volunteer will visit five households within the session.

Sign up at www.bbshare.sg.

Home This Christmas,  organised by Habitat for Humanity

Help impoverished elderly who live alone in Singapore by making a paper house Christmas ornament. Habitat for Humanity has also teamed up with Plain Vanilla Bakery to raise funds through their #PVBuildsforHabitat campaign.

With a donation of $5, you can decorate your own ornament using their craft supplies at their Tiong Bahru outlet, 1D Yong Siak Street. This will fund Habitat for Humanity's efforts to clean or refurbish their small rental flats, as well as its other concurrent projects abroad such as to build houses for low-income families across Southeast Asia.

You can also donate directly to the Home This Christmas donation drive here, which closes on Dec 31.

Make a Donation, organised by Giant Singapore

If you're dropping by your nearest Giant Hypermarket, pick up an extra item and give it to a family in need.

At the Tampines, Suntec City, IMM and Grand Stand Hypermarkets, you'll find gift cages located near the customer service counter where you can drop items for beneficiaries of Food from the Heart, a non-profit organisation that seeks to alleviate hunger in Singapore.

Giant recommends buying items like non-perishable food, basic necessities like toilet paper and detergent, and other useful items like electronic appliances and stationery.

The donation drive ends on Dec 25. More information, here.

Christmas from the Heart,  organised by Food from the Heart

This one is great fun for the kids. Customise an adorable Christmas e-card that you can share with friends and family. Food from the Heart's online interactive fundraiser lets you put together a digital greeting card.

There are various delightful templates to choose from and lots and lots of Christmas ornaments that you can "paste" on to your card. You get to include your name and a short message too. Once you're done, proceed to check-out and make your donation.

Visit https://xmas.foodheart.org/ to create your card now.

Christmas Blood Donation Drive,  organised by Singapore Red Cross

Donations don't just have to be monetary.

Singapore Red Cross is conducting its Christmas blood drive on Dec 23, 12-6pm at the Scape Hubquarters. Your blood donation could save lives during emergencies and benefit people with medical conditions like leukaemia, thalassaemia and bleeding disorders.

As of Dec 19, the amount of types A-, B-, O+ and O- blood in the blood bank are between the low to moderate range. So if you are any of those blood types, make an appointment this Christmas.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/153624341785243/.

Charity Gift Wrapping,  organised by Lovefad

From Dec 14 to 24, Lovefad is providing charity gift wrapping services at Jem, Tampines Mall, United Square, Westgate or Jurong Point every day from 11am to 9.30pm.

Just donate $1 and the volunteers, all of whom have been trained to gift-wrap, will carefully wrap your presents, no matter what shape and size.

Proceeds will be donated to Singapore Red Cross and the Home Nursing Foundation. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/153624341785243/.

Visit Simply Her for more stories.