MANY ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING HOLIDAY HELP.

Here are some opportunities to help the less fortunate during the holidays in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Prayer Angels for the Military: The Prayer Angels will host ``Holidays for Heroes'' from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Santa Clarita Community Center, 22421 Market St., Newhall. Join them to fill care packages for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Donations and money for shipping are also needed. Call [phone] or [phone] for large-item pick up. For information, visit www.prayerangelsforthemilitary.com.

Nancy's Ranch: This Christmas tree farm is accepting donations to provide trees to military families at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base as part of the Trees for Troops program. A $40 donation will provide a real Christmas tree to a Marine's family. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to Nancy's Ranch, 25039 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355, by Tuesday. For information, call Nancy Roadcap at [phone].

United States Postal Service: The USPS ``Santa Central'' is in need of Santa's helpers to read and answer thousands of letters to Santa Claus from children and adults throughout the area. Letters will be distributed at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Santa Clarita Processing and Distribution Center, 28201 Franklin Parkway, Santa Clarita. Letters from children in need are given to helpers who can make the children's wishes come true. For information, call Richard Maher at [phone].

Castaic Lions Club: The 17th annual Christmas float will bring Santa to various neighborhoods throughout Castaic from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2 through 11. At each visit, the Lions Club will be accepting canned food donations for needy Castaic and Val Verde families. The float will visit Double C Ranch/Hidden Lake on Dec. 2 and North Lake/Stonegate on Dec. 3. For a complete list of float routes, call Century 21 Americas at [phone].

Southern California firefighters: The Holiday Toy Express will pull into the Newhall Metrolink Station at 8:25 p.m. Dec. 8 to collect unwrapped toys on behalf of the Spark of Love Toy Drive. Toys collected will be distributed to local children. The train, decorated with 50,000 sparkling lights and carrying Santa and his helpers, will host entertainment for families who turn out to participate in the drive. For information, call [phone] or visit www.metrolinktrains.com/holidayexpress.

Santa Clarita Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference: This group of year-round volunteers is seeking grocery store gift cards to make this holiday a memorable one for 104 local families. Donations are being accepted through Dec. 15 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 23233 Lyons Ave., Newhall. Please specify that the donation is for St. Vincent de Paul when dropping it off. Sponsors are also needed to buy gifts for children and families for the holidays. For information, call [phone].

Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station: The sheriff's station is conducting its annual toy drive to collect new, unwrapped toys for needy children living in the Santa Clarita Valley area. Toys can be dropped off at the sheriff's station, 23740 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, or at participating businesses through Dec. 17. For information, call Deputy Laurie Baylis at [phone].