HOLIDAYS BRING OUT THE BEST IN US.

Byline: -- Angie Valencia-Martinez

You can't escape the holiday season. Try it. Turn on the TV. Listen to the radio. Go shopping. Can't do it, right? And now, it's all over the pages of valleynews.com.

For the last couple of weeks, our readers have continually posted holiday-related articles to the site. And I'm not complaining.

Through their entries, I've learned of a couple of giving neighbors and great events going on in our own backyard.

Take the selfless act of a couple of children from the Valley. These kids attend Our Lady of the Valley School in Canoga Park and recently donated bags full of Halloween candy to troops overseas. They also took the time to make Christmas cards for them, reminding them how grateful they were to the military. Read more about them on page 18.

Now, on to two local women -- Paula Cornell, of Simi Valley, and Jane Josephson, of Woodland Hills -- who have dedicated their time to forming a nonprofit organization for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. This December, they will be sending yet another shipment to the ``brave freedom fighters,'' and they've got the support of some local organizations. To date, they've sent 129 care packages to the troops and they're not done. Their story can also be found on page 18.

Then there's the Wellness Community Valley/Ventura chapter, which is hosting its 15th annual Holiday Homes Tour along with a holiday gift boutique. The proceeds of both events, scheduled for Dec. 2-3, will fund programs of support, education and hope for people battling cancer. Read about their great cause on page 6.

Thanks for your holiday stories, valleynews.com users. They've definitely captured the spirit of the holiday season.