Wishing trees have gone up at Horsham Country Target and Kmart Horsham to collect gift donations.

Wimmera Uniting Care and the Salvation Army have joined forces. Donations left at the Kmart and Target wishing trees will be pooled and distributed to families in need.

Wishing trees are also at Minyip and Murtoa community centres and the Warracknabeal Target store.

Wimmera Uniting Care Christmas appeal co-ordinator Jeanette Lennon said people could place presents under the trees now.

``We ask that people bring them in unwrapped because we have to sort the gifts for appropriate age groups to make sure they go to the right person,'' she said. ``Gift vouchers are available for purchase at the counter as well. They are specially good for young adults because sometimes it's hard to know what to get them.''

Mrs Lennon said the wishing trees would be up until December 23 but she urged people to deliver gifts early.

``Get in early so we can get them sorted and distributed as early as possible,'' she said.

``Delivering presents early means needy families know they won't be struggling at Christmas time.''

Mrs Lennon said every gift donated made a difference.

``Every gift means one more person gets a present on Christmas Day,'' she said. ``It makes a huge impact. Imagine waking up on Christmas morning and not having any presents under the tree for your family.''

Horsham Kmart store manager Tony Sleep said the Kmart wishing tree had received about 30 gifts.

``It's only early days and people have only just got into their Christmas shopping,'' he said. ``One of the new things we have this year is coin boxes on all our registers and we've been quite surprised at the response to those. We had a decent amount of money in those straight away.''

Mr Sleep said gifts donated to the wishing tree didn't have to be bought at Kmart and could be wrapped.

``We ask that people put a tag on the gift that specifies the age and gender of the gift,'' he said. ``That way people can choose the gift that they want to buy and nominate the age. Our staff are happy and willing to help with questions about appropriate gifts.''

Mr Sleep said the gift tags had a barcode that could be loaded with a cash amount if people preferred to donate that way.

``We also have a range of products including Christmas wrap, bags, cards and drink bottles clearly marked at the front of the store and all the proceeds of those goes directly to the wishing tree,'' he said.