Not-for-profit Veritas House is calling on the community to bring some December cheer to young people in need of it by contributing to one of a number of local Christmas Giving Trees.

Veritas has the trees set up at its offices at 106 Russell Street and 96 Bentinck Street and is hoping residents will buy a gift for a child or young person who is at risk of experiencing homelessness or who is unlikely to receive a gift due to hardship.

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Each tree has gift tags that contain the Christmas wishlist for each child, and those who want to contribute simply select a tag and bring it back over the next three weeks with their preferably unwrapped gift.

Moodie's Pharmacy in Howick Street will also have tags on its Christmas tree in-store and will give customers a 10 per cent discount off the retail price for any items purchased to use as gifts for Veritas clients.

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"The number of young people Veritas is supporting to either move from the out-of-home care system and into independent living, or who are living with foster carers, is currently at its highest level for our agency," Veritas House CEO Jody Pearce said.

"Added to that, the Christmas period is also one of our busiest at our youth refuges in Orange and Bathurst; so we are hopeful the local community will get behind our Christmas Appeal again this year."

In light of COVID, residents have the option of calling Veritas on 1300 01 1973 and staff will provide details for a child's wishlist so the gift can be purchased online and delivered to Veritas.

Alternatively, residents can make a tax-deductible donation, and Veritas caseworkers will organise to purchase a child's gift.

"Last year we had a number of parents bring their children in to select a tag and purchase a gift, so they could learn the importance of giving gifts, not simply receiving," Ms Pearce said.

"We also had a number of businesses in the region replace their office Kris Kringle with buying gifts for our clients, which was a huge contribution towards filling our tree and providing gifts to all of the children in our care.

"We are hoping local residents and businesses will not be put off by concerns about COVID and will use one of the options we have available to assist us to bring some joy into the lives of special local children this Christmas, so that we can make Christmas Day a special day the children will truly remember."

Veritas House is one of the largest providers of foster care and youth homelessness services in the region, supporting more than 800 children and young people each year.