More than 40 under privileged Bay of Plenty families are in line for a dose of community Christmas cheer thanks to the simple notion of ‘paying it forward'.

From December 19, hampers full of donated goods and presents will begin to appear on the nominated families' doorsteps following a Bay-wide community challenge involving more than 300 people.

Pay it Forward co-founder Leanne Hollinshead with donated goods and presents set to go into various Christmas hampers. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

Stretching from Te Puna to Maketu, the Pay it Forward concept - a not for profit group initiated less than six months ago - has seen 60 people register for the challenge of gifting back to families this Christmas.

A further 200 signed on saying they would donate items.

And in a final push, the eight-strong Pay It Forward administration team spent a portion of today at the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre collecting donated goods and presents set to go into various Christmas hampers.

The group has been tirelessly working behind the scene to help families in financial hardship with hampers and presents.

Pay it Forward co-founder Leanne Hollinshead says the generosity of the community has been amazing and has helped to bring back the spirit of gifting.

'We set up a challenge a few months ago to feed the children and families in need between then and Christmas,” she says.

Applications close to be considered for a parcel today, with more than 40 families already on the list seeking help ahead of December 25.

Leanne says each hamper will consist of non-perishable goods including tinned fruit and food, food for animals and confectionary as well as surprise presents.

Any remaining items will be donated to the Merivale Community Centre and the Tauranga Foodbank.

'We are making sure everyone in the family will get at least one present,” adds Leanne. 'So when presents are donated we ask they be wrapped with a specific age on it.

'We have had a great response from the community.

For further information contact Leanne on: 0272 782 879.