How do I find good charities to give small gifts to?

I rarely give money to charity unless I know exactly where the money is going.
I prefer to volunteer my time, clothing, items.
You can look for a local foster care or needy care place. Many of them are in need of things like blankets, hairbrushes, and food. Do a little web search, or ask someone who works for a church/holy place.
The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, the red cross, all do great things for charity.

Check with your local social service agencies or churches or synagogues or mosques or city hall. They will know what charities need contributions. You might also check out your local food bank to offer cash donations there too. Being a volunteer when you can’t give money is also really needed. Bless you, every little bit helps.

To accomplish this in my community I started The Shoebox Project . Take a look at the sort of donations made there & you might get some ideas how to implement a similar program in your area. In our program, 100% of donated items are distributed through social service agencies like the women’s shelter. Many go to foster children. In addition to the shoeboxes, which contain toiletries, school supplies, & small games & toys, we donate new clothes. Undies, socks & coats are especially needed.

Look forward to the joy you can bring others–

I would check out AmericasSecondHarvest.org and locate the nearest Food Bank in your area. They specialize in all of the things you listed and they work with hundreds of nonprofit organizations to get the stuff from their warehouse into the hand of people who need it. It is one of the organizations that you truly get the bang out of your buck.