The boxes were contributed by generous members of the Manning-Great Lakes community for the 2019 Operation Christmas Child appeal.

Organised by Samaritan's Purse, the worldwide initiative aims to deliver kids in developing nations much-needed gifts for Christmas along with the message of the gospel.

Mariann Hall has been organising the logistics of the operation in the Manning-Great Lakes for the past two years and says the local community has once again shown its generosity, with shoeboxes coming in from churches, schools, craft groups and other organisations, as well as a wide cross-section of individuals.

"I think people in general are very generous," she said.

"It seems like the regional areas do better than the actual cities."

A simple but thoughtful initiative, contributors are asked to fill a shoebox with six items:

They then combine their contribution with a $10 donation.

From there, the shoeboxes are collected from regional drop-off points such as the Forster Christian Life Centre and taken to a warehouse in Sydney, where they're quality-checked and shipped overseas.

Mariann said the majority of Australian contributions went to countries in the Pacific Rim.

The money raised through donations is also used to build wells and provide education about personal hygiene.

A substantial project involving a whole network of volunteers like Mariann, it's estimated that 350,000 shoeboxes leave Australia each year and land in the hands of kids who don't have a lot.

With shoeboxes still coming in and another delivery due to be picked up from Forster on October 24, it's likely that the generosity of people from the Manning-Great Lakes will brighten up the lives of a few thousand kids this Christmas.

To donate a shoebox, click here.

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