Easter will be different this year, but it's hoped Border residents are still prepared to give so children may grow.
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The Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal will proceed online, with no tins rattled, doors knocked or fire trucks roaming the streets of Albury-Wodonga.
Instead, people can visit a virtual tin shake and add their donation to the tally of their preferred town or emergency service group. Collection tins have also been placed in a number of Border businesses.
Wodonga Lions Club Good Friday Appeal co-ordinator Phil Wilkins said the coronavirus situation had brought about a "monumental change" to the annual campaign.
"Our collectors and our emergency service people are at the coalface of those street collections and door knock but this year we're not able to do that.
"Considering what our emergency services people have to do in their day-to-day jobs, we're not going to put them at risk at all."
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Albury Civic Fire Station captain John Vandeven said while all money raised helped the overall cause, he hoped people would "keep it north of the border" when choosing which group to support.
"We'd still like to see NSW get stuck in and donate in the virtual tins," he said.
Mr Vandeven hoped the regular collections would return next year.
"We actually love getting out in the fire truck and seeing the smiles on the children's faces," he said.
"A lot of them collect all year just to see us and donate their money. It's one of those beautiful days that you really enjoy. We're in times where we all have to do the right thing and the more we do the right thing, the less this virus will spread and the quicker we can get through it."
For Wodonga Fire Brigade Group deputy group officer Alex Todd, this year will be his first chance to sleep in on Good Friday since 1987.
Appeal organisers realise many potential donors are struggling after summer bushfires and now the job losses and restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We just want people to donate as much as they can to look after the kids," Mr Todd said. "There's no target, no nothing - except to beat Albury. They might have got the wood on us last year but we'll beat them this year."
The Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal online collection has begun. Donations can be made at virtualtinshake.com.
Wodonga area businesses hosting collection tins:
Take Time Cafe, 147A High Street, Wodonga
Charcoal Chicken, Woolworths car park, Wodonga
Central Medical Group, 224/226 Beechworth Road, Wodonga
Zumii Shoe Shop, 81 High Street, Wodonga
Wodonga Jewellers, 139 High Street, Wodonga
Bes Nail Saloon, 3/137 High Street, Wodonga
Coffee Mamma, 190 High Street, Wodonga
Phonnic, Phone Shop, 192 High Street, Wodonga
Sesame St Café ,176 High Street, Wodonga
Gregs Takeaway, 106A High Street, Wodonga
Henri's Bakery, 57 Hovell Street, Wodonga
Subway, K Mart complex, Wodonga
Tattslotto, Wodonga Plaza, Wodonga
Jays Jays, Wodonga Plaza, Wodonga
EB Games, Wodonga Plaza, Wodonga
Muffin Break, Wodonga Plaza, Wodonga
Boost Juice, Wodonga Plaza, Wodonga
The Kebab Shop, Wodonga Plaza, Wodonga
Valentines Bakery, Wodonga Plaza, Wodonga
Micheals Cake Shop, Wodonga Plaza, Wodonga
Nation Street & Surf, Wodonga Plaza, Wodonga
Birra Chix, Birralee Plaza, Wodonga West
Birra Cellars, Birralee Plaza, Wodonga West
Birra Butcher, Birralee Plaza, Wodonga West
Tobacco Shop, Birralee Plaza, Wodonga West
Asian Noodle Cuisine, Birralee Plaza, Wodonga West
Birra Flix, Birralee Plaza, Wodonga West
Red Brik Caffé, 7 Daintree Way, Wodonga West
Good Price Pharmacy Warehouse, 8/285 Victoria Cross Parade, Wodonga East
Kangaroo Store, 70 Bonegilla Road, Ebden
Ebden Caravan Park, 33 Boathaven Road, Ebden
