You have no possessions, no toys, your clothes are ragged, you have never had shoes.

Then one day, some people come to your village in a truck and they give every child a brightly coloured shoe box.

You open it up and your eyes pop out.

There's a rubber ball, a pair of shoes, a cake of soap, a pen and notebook, and the most adorable teddy bear.

And in it all is a letter. It says, "Dear friend, I want you to know that I care. This comes with my prayers that God will look after you. Happy Christmas from Tamworth, Australia."

This is a scenario that will be repeated 11 million times this Christmas.

It's called Operation Christmas Child and it's been going for 26 years. In that time 166 million children have received a hand delivered Christmas box.

Around the world, in churches, families, schools, people are getting a shoe box, and putting in it six items: something to wear, something to play with, something for school, something to love, something special, something for personal hygiene.

When the box is full it is taken to drop off points at Whitham's Warehouse or Car Doctor, along with $10 to cover transport.

In Tamworth this month, hundreds of people are finding creative ways to fill a box.

One said, "I just went to the Reject Shop with $10."

One local craft group did 40 boxes.

Last term, Oxley Vale Public School held a packing party. The children packed 126 boxes. To raise money for transport, the principal allowed himself to be duct-taped. Children could purchase a length of tape and stick Mr. Norman to the wall.

It's a gift of love that tells a child he or she is not forgotten.