CHRISTMAS is going to be a lot brighter for 23 Warwick families, with kind strangers swooping in to help others in need this year.

The Adopt-A-Family program, which is coordinated by the Red Cross, is back again this year and has proved this really is the season for giving.

Daily News co-ordinator Simone Nolan said it took only about a week for all the families to be adopted.

She spent yesterday shopping for and wrapping mountains of gifts for the Daily News office's own adoptive family.

Being a mum herself, Simone said she was driven to help by the children.

"The thing that I love about it is the fact that for one day out of the year I know these kids we will have an awesome day," she said.

"I would assume most of them have a pretty tough life and if we can come together by donating gifts and food to make that one day special, then I know it's a job well done.

"My son is just starting to know what Christmas is and he is so excited for it," she said.

"Hopefully these kids w ill be able to have the same great Christmas."

Simone urged other people to consider joining the Adopt-A-Family program next year.

"You are doing something that will make Christmas memorable not only for the kids but also the parents," she said

"It must be awful to think you can't give your kids a Christmas and it would be great for the parents to know their kids are going to have a good day."

The only drawback is if you're anything like Simone, once you start shopping, you may not be able to stop.

"What is great about is you buy the items and get to see exactly what is going to the family," she said.

"I love it; I love wrapping the presents and choosing what to buy - the worst bit is I get carried away and want to spend double the budget."