Since ’tis the season to give, many artists are finding ways to assist those in need by contributing a song to a charity compilation or performing at a benefit concert. Here’s a short list of rockers angling to get on Santa’s “Good” list:

• The Shins, Spoon, the Cure and Animal Collective are among the dozen artists providing exclusive songs to Causes 1, a Waxploitation release that will donate 100 percent of the proceeds to charities assisting the Darfur crisis.
• The pirate dress Britney Spears infamously gave a waitress on Halloween after the two women swapped costumes is currently up for auction on the Us Weekly site. The winning bid will go to the Make-A-Wish foundation.
• Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Will Oldham, Kim and Kelley Deal and Steve Albini will all appear at The Second City That Never Sleeps: Letters to Santa. The twenty-hour event features Chicago-area comedians improvising for the duration, with spells of relief from the musicians. The event starts on December 4th at 7 PM (and concludes December 5th at 7 PM) and will help provide Christmas gifts to needy children.
• In addition to his year-round charity work with Philly’s Project H.O.M.E., Jon Bon Jovi will also headline the Hope Concert III on December 21st in Red Bank, NJ. The concert will help benefit The Valerie Fund, an organization that helps children with cancers and blood disorders.
• Billy Joel, Jewel, Five for Fighting and a host others have donated tracks to a compilation created to be a musical “Thank You” for the troops. CD for the Troops is available as a free download to anyone with military validation at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service.
• My Morning Jacket will donate the proceeds from their 7′’ picture disc 2006-2007 New Year’s Eve Skit Picture Disc Skit to the Sweet Home New Orleans charity dedicated to revitalizing the community in the Big Easy.
• Queen and Paul Rodgers will release a free download, a song called “Say It’s Not True,” to help raise awareness for World Aids Day. Visit 46664.com to get the track starting December 1st. Debbie Harry will also give all the proceeds from her new single “Two Times Blue” to help benefit World Aids Day.
• Seal will perform at the Musicians On Call 4th Annual Concert and Auction on January 28th at the Hard Rock Café in New York City. Musicians On Call bring live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities to enhance the healing process.
• Rock and Wrap It Up! is a nonprofit that collects leftover food from rock shows and distributes it to the hungry (among other things). Tom Petty, Dave Matthews and are a few of the stars who’ve participated in the program.