Presents are totally awesome! And this time of year it's easy to get wrapped up (ha-ha) in all the holiday festivities, but it's also a fantastic time to give back to others—donating time, food, clothes, and/or money (if you've got it) to local charities that are doing great work in our community. And in some cases, all you have to do is show up at a rock show. That's easy! You do that anyway! Here's a rundown of some upcoming benefit shows:

On December 17, Vera Project hosts Rock Out Hunger, featuring local synth-loving rock band Shotty (think the Epoxies, but with heavier guitar riffs), Jar of Rain, Verlee for Ransom, and Gentleman Gaga. The show doubles as a food drive for Northwest Harvest, so bring a nonperishable food donation (and don't bring a can of lame garbanzo beans or something, either!) and get two bucks off the $10 ticket price.

That same night, the Hot Rock on a Cold Night benefit show happens at the Salmon Bay Eagles Club in Ballard. The event itself (featuring music by local teen bands, including Pave the Earth, Empathy, and No Excuses) is completely free, but they ask that you bring a new and warm article of clothing to donate to Teen Feed. The local organization hosts dinners every night of the year at its University District location, and its workers are always in need of sweaters, jackets, and especially socks to pass along to homeless teens.

For those of you who are over 21 and still want to help the kids, there's an amazing lineup at Neumos on Tuesday, December 21, which benefits the Boys & Girls Club. Stranger Genius Award winner Shabazz Palaces headline the show, which also features THEESatisfaction, Mad Rad, Champagne Champagne, Macklemore, Mash Hall, and more—pretty much every notable member of Seattle's hiphop scene will be onstage at one point or another. You get to see a killer night of music, and the Boys & Girls Club reaps the monetary rewards.

Go do good things.

Fri Dec 17: Shotty, Jar of Rain, Verlee for Ransom, Gentleman Gaga at the Vera Project, 7:30 pm, $10/$8 with canned food donation.

Fri Dec 17: Pave the Earth, Empathy, No Excuses, Fate Descends at the Salmon Bay Eagles Club (5216 20th Ave NW), 8 pm, free (when you bring a new item of clothing to donate to Teen Feed).

Sun Dec 19: Benefit Concert for Children of the Night: Under the Red Door, Stand Up and Shout, guests at Chop Suey, 7 pm, $7.