The girls have spent the past few weeks collecting goodies to make 45 care packages to send to soldiers in time for Christmas.

Each care package weighs about 2kg and includes a range of food, games and personal items that will brighten Christmas morning for those who can’t be with their families this year.

The girl guides, ranging in ages from five to 12, collected items including lollies, chocolate, girl guides cookies, candy canes, chips, shaving cream, baby powder, body wash, socks, decks of cards, sudoku books, and more.

They then spent a night packing the boxes, another night making handmade Christmas cards for the troops and a third night decorating the packages.

Tourism Moree has also thrown their support behind the project, providing Moree tourism brochures and a selection of locally-produced food items to promote Moree Plains Shire.

Moree Girl Guides leader Jessi-Lee Stewart said the initiative was chosen as this year’s service project.

“Each year the army offer the opportunity for the public to send boxes that are 2kg to soldiers who are stationed overseas,” she said.

“We choose a service project that allows the girls to give back to the community; last year we did a toy drive.

“It’s just about spreading the Christmas spirit.

“It’ll be a little piece of home while they’re overseas.

“It’s promoting Moree and giving the girls the opportunity to understand what’s happening in the world and understand that there are people who won’t be with their families for Christmas.”

Ms Stewart recommends Girl Guides to anyone who is interested in joining.

“It’s a way of life; it teaches you morals and standards that will stay with you,” she said.

“It’s life skills that they learn in a fun and positive environment.”