Giving during the holiday season is one of many ways to help spread holiday cheer — especially for those who need a little extra help during the season.

For those who have the means to help a family in need this season, here are a few places that are helping families both locally and nationally:

Local Wish Lists:

National Wish Lists:

With more than 1.3 million nonprofits to choose from this holiday season, knowing where, what or how to donate can be difficult.

“It’s important to get to know a nonprofit before you donate,” Rick Cohen chief communications officer and chief operating officer of National Council of Nonprofits, told TODAY. “You don’t want to donate right away to an organization that reaches out to you out of the blue.”

Cohen says using the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool is a good way to verify an organization’s legitimacy.