Canberra mother Natasha Tziarkas' helps give women in crisis a merrier Christmas

But she is also acutely aware that other mothers will be attempting to ensure the same magic for their own children while struggling with homelessness, domestic violence and other crises.

Thanks to the Gordon woman's initiative and a viral Facebook post, many of those women's days will be a little bit brighter with care packages distributed to three Canberra support services.

About 145 gifts, ranging from pamper packs, make-up, adult colouring books and sanitary products will be donated to women receiving support from the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre, Toora Women and Karralika.

Ms Tziarkas raised about $500 in donations after seeing a Facebook post about a similar gift-giving program in Victoria.

"I put it out there on Facebook to my family and friends, saying we could do the same thing in Canberra," she said.

"I was thinking we'd just get 10 or 20 gifts together, but it just snowballed."

That estimate of numbers turned out to be well below the reality, with the gifts crammed into 15 large boxes.

Family members and close friends who worked for women's support services piqued Ms Tziarkas' interest in helping women doing it tough over Christmas.

Domestic violence services receive a spike in calls between December and March in Canberra, while crisis accommodation capacity is boosted during the summer holidays.

Ms Tziarkas said she reflected on her own experiences as a mother to consider those less fortunate.

"Any money or anything else that they have, they will pour into your child and I know those women will wake up with nothing on Christmas Day, so I wanted to try and do something to help empower them," she said.

Some people donated products, but many more gave cash, which Ms Tziarkas used to purchase the gifts.

She has spent a couple of days each week for the past month finding supplies to add to the gift-giving collection.

The recipient organisations collectively support women coping with domestic violence, sexual assault, alcohol and drug dependence, and homelessness.

Anyone distressed by subjects raised in this story can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 6247 2525 or the Domestic Violence Crisis Service on 6280 0900.