Over the past several years locals have been digging deep to give to those less fortunate and ensure they receive some good old Aussie Christmas cheer.

This is the 26^th year that operation Christmas Child has been sending shoe boxes filled with items for the boys and girls who live in need in over 100 countries.

Each shoe box is an opportunity for the boys and girls to experience love in a tangible way.

OCC shoe boxes from Australia and New Zealand are delivered to children living in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Madagascar and Philippines.

Samaritan's Purse are involved in communities in South East Asia and the South Pacific making a difference through clean water projects, medical, nutrition and livelihood projects and opportunities to build schools and supply resources for teachers breaking the cycle of poverty through education.

Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes are packed in three age groups 2-4, 5-9, 10-14, with simple gifts a soft toy, school supplies, a washer and soap, tooth brush, shorts or skirt/ T- shirt or thongs and beanie, a skipping rope, cars and a tennis ball, and a library bag.

There is a $10 donation for each shoe box, to cover the project cost from your hands to the hands of the boys and girls.

Brochures with "how to pack a shoebox" are available at the Grenfell Christian book shop, Spice n Aroma, Vavoom hair studio, Grenfell Furniture, the Hub, Louise's Locker, Grenfell Shoes, Unwind and the Grenfell Newsagency.

Collection month for Grenfell is October.

Filled shoe boxes can be delivered to the Grenfell Christian Bookshop at 52 Main Street on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday between 10am and 4pm and Saturday from 9:30am - 12pm and Grenfell Uniting church down stairs Sunday School room each Tuesday in October from 11am - 3pm.

For OCC inquires contact Joyce Baker, Grenfell (coordinator) on 63833529 or 0439832825.