Fairfield School children in years 5 and 6 were planning to hold a secret Santa gift exchange this year, but when they heard that local foodbanks were running low on food coming into the holidays they changed their plans.
Pupil Josef Dettling said the $5 they had planned to spend on gifts could buy at least two cans each, which would add up quickly as there were more than 100 pupils in the year levels.
Their teachers brought up the idea and asked how the children felt about it, he said.
Presents were good, but making sure people had food was more important.
"We’ve all got stuff - we don’t need any more."
Pupil Madison Newall said it "feels really good knowing people will have food for Christmas".
Not everybody was as lucky as they were, she said.
Teacher Kathryne Tofia said the school expected to have about 240 cans to donate on Monday morning.
The drive was an "awesome gesture of giving" and a real example of the Christmas spirit, she said.
