One of the challenging things about the holidays is that they're "supposed" the be joyful. Be happy, be merry, enjoy your family - and if you don't, you must be doing it wrong. But families can be challenging and grief can be relentless at the holidays especially.
No matter how into the holidays you are (or aren't) they come with a lot of stress. Travel, money, schedules, and routines in turmoil, that one really annoying brother-in-law - it can all add up.
As so many of you have mentioned, volunteerism and faith go hand in hand. Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Islam, and more all place a high value on serving others. Regardless of your personal beliefs, it's clear that the core of what it means to be human is connecting with others.