Lack of time is no excuse for not giving back this month, because Boston charities offer a variety of opportunities to give back that only require a minute or two of your time: item drives and collection boxes. If you do find yourself needing a break between work, decorating, and gift shopping, many of these charities also throw fundraising events.

• Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12, who live in homeless or low-income situations, with essential items needed to thrive (at school, at home, and at play).
•  National Amusements Winter Clothing Collection: Bring new or gently used clothing donation to a participating National Amusements Theater between December 8 and 9.
• Barnes and Noble Book Collection: Purchase a book and donate it at any participating Barnes and Noble store between December 1 and 31.
• Holly Cleaners Winter Coat Collection: Bring new or gently-used children’s coats to any Holly Cleaners location between December 1 and 31.

• Toys for Tots collects new toys during October, November and December each year and distributes these toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community.
• Collection Box: Bring new toys to their location at 23 Dry Dock Ave., Boston 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, or mail checks payable to Toys for Tots between December 1 and 31.

• Caring for Christmas supports the initiatives of Friends of Boston’s Homeless, The Home for Little Wanderers, and On the Rise and cares for those in need in the community.
• Charity Drive: Bring gift cards for groceries, clothing, diapers, bed linens, bath linens, personal care products, and socks to Mary Baker Eddy Library from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. between December 1-2 and 4-7.
•  Handmade: Knit and crochet scarves, mittens, hats, and socks for neighbors in need at Mary Baker Eddy Library from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 2.

• Room to Grow enriches the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development.
• Fall Gala: Attend the auction, dinner, and celebration to provide parents raising babies in poverty with one-on-one parenting support and essential baby items on December 7 at The Westin Copley Place.

• Greater Boston Food Bank aims to end hunger in eastern Massachusetts by distributing food to those in need.
• Sort Food: Help clean, sort, box, and weigh food for distribution at the Greater Boston Food Bank on Saturday, December 1 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• Hearth and HomeStart work to end homelessness by providing permanent and affordable housing.
• Walking Shoes of the Homeless: Walk for the homeless on Sunday, December 2 AT 1 p.m. to raise awareness and funds for homelessness.

• Cookies for Kids’ Cancer raises funds to support research for new and improved therapies for pediatric cancer.
• Cookie Swap: Swap a cookie and the Glad to Give campaign will donate $1 per cookie swapped on Sunday, December 16 AT 281 Summer St., Boston, from 2 p.m. To 5p.m.