For most folks, it’s a safe bet that Christmas and grilling aren’t two things that automatically go hand-in-hand.

Cooking out on the grill is all the rage come Independence Day, or even Memorial Day. Wintertime — at least in Virginia — just isn’t an incredibly popular time to stand in front of a grill, no matter how good the steaks might be.

Still, folks with gas grills have gas cylinders to be refilled in preparation for the spring, they have wintertime tune-ups — and there are, indeed, the occasional grilled-food enthusiasts for whom a little shivering is a small price to pay for the taste of charred stripes on their chicken breasts.

For all those people, and for those who just want to do a little something to help out those who are a bit less fortunate, the AmeriGas office at 1238 Holland Road has a special holiday deal.

As a special incentive to get people to help out the Salvation Army this year, the company has set up food and toy collection boxes. Customers who bring in at least two cans of food or at least one new toy can get their 20-lb. gas cylinders refilled for just $5, Bobby Derrick, the company’s district manager said Thursday.

Refills can cost between $18 and $25 normally.

“We just wanted to help out the community,” he said. “There’s a lot of people going through hard times right now.”

The promotion started on Thursday, as some of the company’s 20 employees covered collection boxes in brightly colored wrapping paper and then dropped in some non-perishable food items and a few toys.

Now, Derrick said, it’s up to his customers to lend a hand.

“I think we’re going to have a right good response to it,” he added.

The food will be delivered directly to the Salvation Army, and the toys will be used for the Toys for Tots program.

It’s just a small way of giving back a little to the community, Derrick said.

“We’re not just trying to make money. We want to help people, too.”