Now organisers are hoping that generosity will flow again to benefit some of the world’s most needy children.

“Operation Christmas Child is an organisation that sends gift filled shoeboxes around the world to people who are affected by poverty, sometimes victims or war. It might be to orphanages or families where children have nothing,” area co-ordinator Sylvia Paice said.

“This is a huge boost to them, their families and their whole community. It’s one way of letting them know people care.”

Each shoebox is marked to be for a boy or girl aged in one of three groups, two to four years, five to nine years, or 10-14 years.

“You have six groups of items to include in a box. There’s something to love, which is a teddy or doll, and that’s very important for kids who’ve lost family or victims of war,” Ms Paice said.

“There’s something for school, and that might be books or pens and pencils. In some countries they can’t go to school unless they provide those items.

“There’s something to play with, whether it’s a ball or skipping rope. Then there’s something to wear, like a piece of clothing, something of personal hygiene and then something special, which can be anything extra you want to include.”

Showboxes can be collected at the Salvation Army Family Store on Cobbora Road or the Christian Book Store, or visiting operationchristmaschild.org.au.

Boxes need to be returned by the end of October.