MOSES LAKE - Christmas season is, among many other things, a season of charity, and the Salvation Army is looking for people to help with its charitable efforts during December.

The organization is seeking people to volunteer as bell ringers at businesses in Moses Lake through Dec. 24. Volunteers also are needed to help wrap presents, collect gifts from locations around town, count money donations and work the annual pancake breakfast.

Bell ringers work two-hour shifts between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at each location, which include Walmart, the Moses Lake Post Office, Safeway and Lep-Re-Kon Harvest Foods.

The Salvation Army has "Giving Trees" all around town; people are encouraged to buy toys and clothes for children and bring them to one of the donation locations. Buyers pick up tags with the gender and age of the recipients, and each kid has included some toy suggestions. Buyers are asked to get an age-appropriate gift and return it to one of the Giving Tree locations.

Giving Tree locations include Grocery Outlet, Papa's Casino, Great Clips, Radio Shack, Walgreens, Perfection Tire, Lake Auto Parts (NAPA), Sterling Savings, Big R, Lep-Re-Kon Harvest Foods, Tyco-Shaver Oil, Fae's Books and Crafts, Eden Salon, Well Read Books, Mike's Barber Shop, Sporty's restaurant, Bud Clary Auto Mall and Bud Clary Honda.

Other locations include Moses Lake City Hall, Serve Moses Lake, the Worksource/Skillsource office, Moses Lake First Church of the Nazarene, Pioneer Village and the state Department of Social and Health Services office.

Toys are distributed from Dec. 16 through 20 at the Salvation Army office, 212 Alder St. Distribution is by appointment. Salvation Army officials said they expected to give clothes and toys to about 650 children, ages 2 to 12, in the Moses Lake area. Officials are looking for volunteers to wrap packages after people make their selections.

People who want to volunteer can contact the Salvation Army at their office or at 509-766-5875. The office is open from 1 to 4 p.m.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday.