Step Up!, a community volunteer network, urges people to volunteer during the holidays to help the less fortunate. Listed below are opportunities for volunteer involvement during this holiday season. For more information visit www.stepup-grandstrand.org or call 349-6488.

-- Help with the collection, dissemination and delivery of gifts for more than 450 deserving local children for events including clothing drives, food drives, toy drives and book drives.

-- Brighten a child's holiday by handing out name tags or gift lists from a local "Angel Tree" to our generous Grand Strand residents and visitors. Accept donated gifts to place under the tree.

-- Help host a "Kids Carnival for area Foster Kids," held following the Conway Christmas Parade. Volunteers are needed to help with set up, game monitoring, and tear down to make this an extra special day for some extra special kids.

-- Assist social services agency in setting up Christmas Cheer Shop. Volunteers are needed to accept donations, sort toys by age group, keep tables stocked with toys, assist with handing toys out, help with preparation and distribution of food boxes.

-- Ring bell for holiday donations. Volunteers needed to ensure kettle is placed in designated area at designated time at the beginning of the day; make sure the kettle is firmly in place so that it will not overturn; stand by the kettle and ring the bell to collect donations; ensure kettle is stored in designated area at the end of the day.

-- Like working behind the scenes? Dependable individual is needed to enter confidential income data of holiday clients of social service agency for spreadsheet.

Some additional ideas Step Up! can help you with include: -- Holiday entertainment - Get a group together to provide holiday entertainment to hospice clients, residents of assisted living homes, group homes or to people who are not able to leave their own homes due to illness.

-- Make treats for nonprofit agencies - Check with Step Up! to identify a partner non-profit organization that provides a much needed service and make snacks or a lunchtime meal to say 'thank you' to the employees of that organization.

-- Answer a wish list - Check with one of Step Up!'s nonprofit partner agencies that serves your favorite cause for a wish list. Take a look at the wish list and purchase items that will support the services they provide year-round.

-- Give an alternative gift - Give your family and friends a gift by donating money or supplies to a local organization in their name and give that person a card describing the organization and the donation made.

-- Make a blanket - Whether you make a blanket to help keep a homeless family warm during this winter season, to help victims of natural disasters or to simply give it to someone who needs a warm hug, making a blanket has never been easier and so needed. Contact Step Up! to see who needs your donations.

-- Hold a coat and shoe drive - Step Up! has a list of organizations that need coats and shoes this winter. Don't forget the hats and gloves.