When she opened it she discovered the box was completely filled with yellow items: chocolates and tea, two coffee mugs, lollies and a crossword puzzle.

The note went along the lines of, "I'm sending a little bit of sunshine your way".

Elzette had been feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders.

She and her husband, and their two children, live on a 3000-acre property near Cumnock, NSW.

In the last year they have been forced to sell off 90 per cent of their cattle and 50 per cent of their sheep stock as the drought continues its crippling hold; meanwhile Elzette drives 200-kilometres to work as a pre-school teacher at Orange several times a week to generate some off-farm income.

"I was really down; the arrival of that box for my birthday had such a huge impact on me," she said.

A few weeks ago when Elzette was again feeling a little low, she decided to act on it.

"You can feel forgotten when the drought just keeps going on and on - the hampers and gift cards we received two years ago have fizzled out for us," she said.

"I thought, 'Well I can't do anything about my own situation but I can do something to make other women feel better'."

A quick call to her friend Tracey Potts and the shoebox scheme was up and running.

The call went out on social media: Could anyone who was interested in giving women on the land a lift this Christmas fill a shoebox with special, non-perishable pamper items, wrap it in plain newspaper, tie it with a ribbon and drop off to a nominated collection point at Orange.

In less than a week Elzette said the Ladies of the Land NSW Facebook page has "gone crazy".

"We originally hoped for 100 boxes but we have had to develop a whole new mindset as people across the country from Tasmania to Western Australia have answered the call," she said.

Closer to home Holbrook's Marylou Hodges and her sister Rachel have jumped at the idea of helping a fellow sister in need.

They have offered to collect shoeboxes from drop-off points locally and will deliver a ute, float or maybe even a truckload (fingers crossed) to Orange by December 7.

"I wonder how many strong women are out there supporting their families through God knows what," Marylou said on Thursday.

"I'm going to put a scarf in my shoebox and a note with my phone number to say I'm here if you ever need to talk.

"In my mum's box there is a cup, tea bags, a candle and a note wishing someone a merry Christmas."

Other ideas for pamper items include chocolates, small arts and crafts project, toiletries, magazine subscription, vouchers, gift cards, crosswords, or earrings or jewellery.

"Then I thought it would be great to get Liquorland on board and give everyone champagne," Marylou laughed.

But, on a more serious note, Marylou believes by far the most important item in the shoebox will be the card or note with a special message for a woman who is more than likely putting herself last during tough times.

Elzette said she had no idea how many boxes they would end up with ahead of the December 7 deadline but they would start deliveries shortly.

"We have obtained a drought map from the Department of Primary Industries and will start our deliveries with 'intense drought' towns and expand out from there," she explained.

"We have contacted the CWA in every town and asked them to personally investigate through schools, Salvos, Vinnies or other organisations and draw up a list of people who they think can benefit from a shoebox.

"We don't need names, just the number of boxes needed."

Currently they are urgently looking for a transport or courier company that would be willing to donate time and a vehicle to collect shoeboxes from various locations.

Elzette said the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Dubbo had already offered to deliver boxes to Bourke, LIghtning Ridge and other remote areas.

She said she had also been amazed at how many men and also school children who were stepping forward to ask how they could help these women who are the backbone of farming families.

"I received a box that I will never ever forget," she said.

"As women we never ask - this is something that will spoil them and I think the note is the most important thing in the shoebox, particularly if you can include your name and a contact phone number or email.

"You might make a friend and help someone else feel connected and cared for."