Looking to volunteer this holiday season? Don't know where to lend a hand? Here are 15 nonprofits in need of volunteers and donations this holiday season and the whole year 'round. Click on the links to find out how to help.

1. The West Valley Food Pantry is a coalition of 11 congregations located in the west San Fernando Valley providing emergency food to the needy and homeless in the area. The Pantry is run entirely by volunteers and needs help all year long. Download and e-mail the volunteer application to mjlshively@aol.com; you will be contacted by co-supervisor Margaret Shively.

2. Donate canned and dried foods or new toys at the Encino Community Center collection point at 4935 Balboa Blvd. for the West Valley Food Pantry's holiday drive. Last drop-off date for Christmas Day distribution is Dec. 17. Call 818-995-1690 for more information.

3. The Bagel Brigade collects bread donated by supermarkets, bagel shops, 365 days a year and distributes it to people in need. Its mission is to see that children do not go to school without breakfast and do not go to bed hungry. The brigade is always in need of more donor stores and volunteers for pickup and delivery. Contact Frank Shapiro at 818-376-0502, 
Steve Drapkin at 818-312-6057, or e-mail info@bagelbrigade.org.

4. Smart and Final at 16847 Ventura Blvd. is collecting donations for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Shoppers can purchase a $10 coupon that will be scanned at checkout. 

5. SOVA Food Pantry, a division of Jewish Family Service, is in the middle of its virtual food drive, which invites you to make contributions online. For every $1 in donations, JFS/SOVA can purchase $5 in groceries from its suppliers. For those interested in giving food directly, The SOVA Food Pantry, at 16439 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, accepts donations of nonperishable food only.  Especially needed at this time are powdered milk and breakfast cereal. For volunteer opportunities with SOVA, including working in the food warehouse, those who are interested may contact SOVA's volunteer coordinator, Felice Resnick at 818-988-7682,  ext. 118, or e-mail FResnick@jfsla.org.

6. KTLA has teamed up with Ralphs, Stater Bros., the L.A. County Fire Department and the Orange County Fire Authority to collect nonperishable foods for local food pantries. See the Season of Sharing Web site for a list of most needed items. In the San Fernando Valley, the drop-off location is the Ralphs at 14049 Ventura Blvd.

7. The "Spark of Love Toy Drive" runs through Dec. 24. Drop off a toy at Encino fire station 83, 4960 Balboa Blvd. You can also donate online with a credit card through the California Community Foundation (CCF). All proceeds will go to buying toys or sports equipment for the children. Encino Community Center is also collecting unwrapped toys to be delivered to fire station 83 by the children of the center's winter camp.

8. Valley Beth Shalom Chesed Connection offers an extraordinary list of local giving opportunities that can be filtered by interest, type of work, location and desired time commitment. Contact Randi Simenhoff at 818-530-4035
or e-mail ChesedConnection@VBS.org.

9. ONEgeneration provides the community with quality services needing volunteers for homebound meal delivery, working in the intergenerational adult day care and child care programs and assisting in the office. Call 818-705-2345 or e-mail info@onegeneration.org. Location: 17400 Victory Blvd.

10. The Jewish Home for the Aging needs ongoing volunteers at its two campuses in Tarzana and Reseda. Contact Linda Spitz at 818-757-4442 and check the volunteer opportunities page.

11. Help the Salvation Army's Operation Christmas Program from now until Dec. 24. Volunteers are needed for fundraising, to ring the bell, sort  toys and food cans and make bags and boxes for Christmas. Fill out an application at 14917 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys. Contact: Capt. Marina Martinez at 818-781-5739, or e-mail Marina.martinez@usw.salvationarmy.org.

12. Providence Tarzana Medical Center welcomes volunteers all year long for work in nursing units, administrative offices, main information desk, emergency department, book cart, spiritual care, messenger service, patient companionship and gift shop. "We have some volunteers that have been here more than 20 years," says volunteer director Nancy Warren Alaniz. Contact her at Nancy.warren@providence.org or 818-708-5618.

13. Operation Gratitude seeks to boost morale and show support by sending care packages addressed to individual troops overseas. To volunteer in person for the holiday drive at the California National Guard Armory in Van Nuys, e-mail OpGratVolunteer@yahoo.com. Write "Operation Gratitude Volunteer" in the subject line. You can also check out this video of the organization's recent volunteer event.

14. The Mary Magdalene Project helps women prostitutes and their children. It is hosting a Christmas dinner for about 20 to 30 residents, their children and former residents of the program. Donated turkeys, hams, stuffing mix, green beans, potatoes, yams, pumpkin and sweet potato pies are needed by Dec. 23. Contact Dianne Amato at Dianne.amato@mmp.org, or 818-400-6707. Location: 7136 Haskell Ave., Suite 125, Van Nuys.

15. Encino Chamber of Commerce is holding a holiday party on Dec. 16 to celebrate its toy and book drive, running until Dec. 17. Toys and books may be donated to West Valley LAPD and local fire station 83 to be distributed to needy youth in the San Fernando Valley. Bring unwrapped toys and books to any one of the following locations:

• Encino Chamber Office: 4933 Balboa Blvd., Encino
• Encino Community Center: 4935 Balboa Blvd., Encino
• Encino Self Storage: 18019 Ventura Blvd., Encino
• McDonald's: 15700 Ventura Blvd., Encino (at Haskell)
• McDonald's: 17641 Ventura Blvd., Encino (just east of White Oak)
• McDonald's: 18909 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana (at Wilbur)