Season of giving: These charities are making a difference this Christmas

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(Photo by Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

As Christmas approaches, charities and communities across the country are finding powerful ways to give back.

Together, these efforts highlight how ordinary people are stepping up to support their communities when it matters most.

Here's how some people and charities are spreading holiday cheer:

Pennsylvania girls lead annual pajama drive for hospital patients

Two Pennsylvania girls are mobilizing their community through an annual pajama drive supporting patients at Nemours Children’s Hospital. 

Delaney Sturm, 10, and Jessica Jara, 11, have organized the effort since early childhood, shifting from toy donations to collecting colorful pajamas to make hospital stays more comfortable.

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'So special': Kids have touching reaction in Christmas light reveal

Christmas came early for three kids in Lancaster, Penn. as shown by their ecstatic reaction to their dad’s holiday decoration job.

Both girls were inspired by their own medical experiences. Jessica is a pediatric cancer survivor who still returns for check-ups, while Delaney receives biweekly treatment for juvenile arthritis. They say providing soft, cheerful pajamas can help lift spirits and make long days in the hospital feel a little more like home.

Their families note that the project has become meaningful not only for the patients but for the girls themselves, offering a sense of purpose during their own treatments. 

The community is encouraged to participate by donating pajamas through their Amazon wishlist.

National Wreaths Across America Day

More than 2 million volunteers across the country will once again remember the fallen, honor those who served, and teach the next generation the value of freedom at the National Wreaths Across America Day.

This year’s event is being held on Saturday, Dec. 13 with more than two million volunteers placing fresh balsam wreaths on veterans’ graves at thousands of participating locations in all 50 states and at Veterans’ Memorials and historic sites to remember the fallen, honor those who served, and teach the next generation the value of freedom. 

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Anyone who wants to volunteer can visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org to find a nearby location. 

Holiday tradition: Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting

The annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony has taken place in New York, signaling the unofficial start of the holiday season in America’s busiest city. The first tree was raised in 1931 and for more than 90 years since, the star-studded event has drawn performers and massive crowds to New York City for one of the nation's most beloved holiday traditions. LiveNOW’s Shawna Khalafi is speaking with Fox 5 New York’s Richard Giacovas who is live on the ground as the celebrations get started.

Bottomless Toy Chest

The Bottomless Toy Chest is bringing a bit of magic to patients at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, supplying toys and treats to children facing serious illnesses in hopes of helping them feel like kids again.

Rebuilding Christmas in Pasadena

A cherished holiday tradition has returned to a Pasadena, California, neighborhood nearly a year after the devastating Eaton Fire, offering residents a symbol of hope and healing.

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Twenty-two wooden angels once again line Valley Lights Drive in Upper Hastings Ranch, restoring a display long associated with the community’s Christmas spirit. The street suffered significant loss when the January fire destroyed 13 of the 22 homes on the block, leaving behind physical and emotional scars residents are still working to overcome.

Homeowners Victor Sandoval and LuAnn Haslam led the effort to revive the tradition, turning to art as a way to help their neighbors heal.