The appeal which began in 1987 in Adelaide encourages Kmart customers to donate items from the store and leave them as gifts under the Kmart Wishing Tree. You can also make a cash donation at the register.

The fundraiser is in conjunction with the Salvation Army.

Kmart manager Michael Lawrence said the fundraiser will continue until Christmas eve.

He said it was a particularly difficult time at the moment for those doing it tough.

"With the bushfires and drought it is really tough," he said.

Greg Cocking from the Salvation Army in Port Macquarie said every gift will go back to the Hastings community.

He said they are always short of "young teenage type of presents".

Mr Cocking said gift cards also come in handy as they can be used for either sex and kids can get what they most need.

The Salvation Army has been particularly busy helping those affected by bushfires.

"There is more demand on our phones with people trying to find out how to access information," he said.

"Over the last month staff from the Port Macquarie office have been visiting bushfire affected communities like Glen Innes to help feed emergency services and evacuees."