Now that the snow has begun to fall, it marks the beginning of the holiday season. While this usually means the beginning of frenzied shopping and overeating, it should also mean that people are beginning to open up their hearts. This is often one of the most difficult times of year for people who are in need, and even the smallest gesture on our parts can make a big difference in someone’s life.

Of course, we are all college students, and are, therefore, poor. However, even if you do not have a nickel to spare, there are other ways to make a donation and help out besides giving money. Starting this week, there will be community drives going on for nearly everything – especially toys and blood – and it will all be going on right here in the Pioneer Valley.

The goal of a toy drive is to provide toys for children who would otherwise receive nothing for the holidays. The sponsor collects new or used toys that are in good condition and takes care of distributing them to needy children in the area. This year, News Channel 40 is sponsoring one such drive, and Hadley’s Big Y Supermarket is one of the drop-off zones. This is, of course, in addition to the toy drive Coolidge Hall in Southwest is running right here on campus. What a good way for us, as students, to help out the community in which we live.

Blood is another commodity that is needed around this time of year especially. Many families have members whose lives depend on receiving blood, and the Red Cross does its best to supply everyone in need. But without enough donors, there is always a shortage. Giving one pint of blood can save the lives of up to three people, and the process takes less than an hour. There are blood drives frequently scheduled in the basement of the Campus Center. There are other local spots where blood donations will be collected. To find more information on other local drives or to make an appointment to donate, visit www.givelife.org. The greatest gift you can give someone is a second chance at life.

So even though our pockets may be empty, there are still plenty of things we can do to help out the community. So forget about finals for an hour, and get into the spirit of giving. What better time is there than this holiday season? These next few weeks before the holidays are the most crucial for those in need. You alone can make the difference in someone’s life, and the organizations in this area could not make it any easier for us to participate. This is the season of giving, so let’s get out there and give back to our community.

Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Massachusetts Daily Collegian Editorial Board.