How to help make a difference this holiday season

The holiday season is a time for friends, family and giving, but for thousands of Las Vegans in need, the greatest gift they could receive is a little bit of your time. Below are a few of the many nonprofit organizations that serve Southern Nevada — not just during December, but year-round — and how to support them by donating or volunteering.

Three Square

• About the organization: One in 7 households qualifies as food insecure in Southern Nevada. For some areas in the valley, that number jumps to almost 1 in 4, according to Three Square, the primary food bank in Southern Nevada. The nonprofit has served the hungry for 10 years.

Anyone interested in volunteering can help sort and repack food at Three Square’s warehouse, fill backpacks with food to help children get through the weekend, and box meals for the Senior Share Program.

“We appreciate our volunteers and their time because every hour given to Three Square truly makes a difference,” said Alexis Merz, marketing communications specialist at Three Square.

• To volunteer: Visit here.

• To donate: Three Square’s Holiday Match Challenge is in its eighth year. Every $1 donated to Three Square provides six meals (instead of the normal three) through this campaign. Three Square also asks for donations of canned proteins like meat, beans and peanut butter.

Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth

• About the organization: The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth started in 2000 to address the problem of unsheltered homeless youth in the state. Nevada has the highest rate in the nation, according to the 2016 Annual Homeless Assessment Report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“This time of year is for friends, family and loved ones, and homeless youths are especially sensitive to that,” said Arash Ghafoori, the organization’s executive director.

You can donate items from the organization’s Amazon wish list or goods can be donated at its drop-in center, including hygiene supplies, clothing and gift cards to places like Subway or McDonald’s.

• To donate: Supplies can be dropped off at 4981 Shirley St., Las Vegas, NV 89119. The organization also accepts donations here

Helping Hands of Vegas Valley

• About the organization: More than 55,000 hungry seniors reside in Clark County, and lack of funds or transportation is a major cause of their hunger, according to Dana Serrata, the executive director of Helping Hands of Vegas Valley.

In 2000, Helping Hands started providing transportation for seniors who could not drive or access public transportation. It expanded its services to include a food pantry and a food-delivery service. The nonprofit would like volunteers to participate in organizing the pantry and delivering food to seniors.

• To volunteer: Those looking to assist Helping Hands of Vegas Valley can contact Brenda Jepson, the group’s volunteer coordinator, at 702-507-1850 or [email protected].

The Good Deed Project

• About the organization: Struggling families and nonprofits don’t always have the financial means to maintain their properties. Designer Mandy Telleria recognized this problem and launched the Good Deed Project.

The Good Deed Project renovates local shelters like Living Grace, a shelter for homeless teenage mothers, and Safe House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, and plans to help with the home improvement needs of single mothers in Nevada next year.

• To volunteer: The Good Deed Project is looking for volunteers to help with administration, resource development, fundraising and event planning, in addition to volunteers for next year’s projects. To sign up, go here

• To donate: The Good Deed’s focus this holiday season is on raising funds for renovations. You can help by signing up to provide a monthly donation, or by donating tools.

St. Jude’s Ranch For Children

• About the organization: For more than 50 years, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children has offered safe housing and therapeutic treatment to some of the almost 3,000 children in Clark County’s foster care system.

You can help by donating money or by volunteering in the Sibling Preservation Program, which helps reunite siblings who have been separated in foster care for a monthly day of fun. They also need volunteers to help run the annual sibling summer camp for the children.

• To volunteer: Call Kevin Nelson at 702-436-1624, ext. 220, or email [email protected].

Others to consider

• Vegas Roots: Click here, 702-636-4152

• HELP of Southern Nevada: Click here, 702-369-4357

• Safe Nest: Click here, 702-877-0133

• Project 150: Click here, 702-721-7150

• HomeAid of Southern Nevada: Click here, 702-794-0117, ext. 100

• Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas: Click here, 702-638-6477

• Hope for Hearts: Click here, 702-412-6571