The Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons have always been associated with giving to the less fortunate. Colquitt County is blessed with many ways for residents to help one another.

Here are some that have been brought to The Observer’s attention.

• The Moultrie Police Department is holding a Cram the Cruiser Christmas Toy Drive. Please bring gift cards or new, unwrapped toys to the MPD, 128 First St. S.W., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The gifts will spread the joy to children under the care of Colquitt County Department of Family and Children Services. The drive will end Dec. 21. For more information, call the police department at (229) 985-3131.

• District attorneys’ offices for the Southern Judicial Circuit, which includes Colquitt County, are seeking $20 gift cards to distribute evenly among teen-age victims of domestic violence or abuse. Gift cards can be mailed to District Attorney’s Office, P.O. Box 2498, Moultrie GA 31776, or dropped off at Room 222 of the Colquitt County Courthouse Annex, 101 E. Central Ave. The deadline for the card drive is 5 p.m. Dec. 14. For additional information, call Heather Ireland, victim advocate, at (229) 616-7476, or email her at hireland@pacga.org.

• The Children’s Cheer and Toy Shop, operated by social workers at the county’s schools, plans to distribute toys to families Dec. 14. Anyone who wants to donate new or “gently used” toys can place them in the drop box at 589 Industrial Drive or call (229) 890-6184 ext. 5. There is a particular need for toys appropriate for a 9- to 12-year-old.

• Colquitt County Food Bank relies on donations of food and money to provide for the hungry of the community throughout the year. The food bank is preparing the materials for a Christmas dinner for 650 families this year, to be distributed about a week before Christmas. To help with this effort, call the food bank at (229) 985-7725 between 9 and 11:30 a.m.

If your group is collecting for the less fortunate this holiday season, let us know. Call Kevin Hall at (229) 985-4545 or email him at kevin.hall@gaflnews.com.