Can you feel it in the air? Christmas is just around the corner. For most, this is the busiest time of the year. Work gets hectic and there is so much to do for the holidays. All the shopping, preparations, cooking and cleaning for entertaining holiday guests; it can be exhausting. It is easy to get caught up in your own world at times like this.

Here at General Mills, we are asking you to take a second and think about those less fortunate this holiday season. Think about people who don’t have the luxury of a steady job or paycheck. Those who can’t afford to buy presents for their loved ones, or people who don’t have much family to turn to for the holidays.

With your help, General Mills wants to make Christmas brighter for those less fortunate. We also know that in these hard economic times it may seem more difficult to give to charities. We understand you if you can’t give a ton, but we aren’t asking for much. It doesn’t take a whole lot to make a difference in some people’s lives.

In the next few weeks, representatives from General Mills will be visiting your local supermarkets collecting donations for your own local charities. In exchange for your kindness, we will reward your donations with free boxes of our Christmas Cereal.

“It feels really good to give back, especially around the holidays,” says Carol Smith of Pleasantville, NY. “I have to admit, I get a little caught up in my own stuff around Christmas time with all the shopping and the parties, but I’m fortunate to have what I do have and really enjoy making someone else’s Christmas better.”

There is no better time to help out those who really need it than the holidays. The holidays are all about being together with family and loved ones. Some don’t have that, so General Mills wants to be part of their family and we need your help. We can make a lot of people’s holiday better by coming together and donating a little time and a little money.

So please, be a part of our family this Christmas at General Mills.