SALVATION Army envoy Stuart Grice answered a calling when he joined up with organisation eight years ago.

His father and mother were Salvation Army officers and he grew up from the age of 11 being very heavily involved with the charity work they did.

He was at the Proserpine Nursing Home on Monday, metaphorically donning a Santa Claus hat.

He didn't have a sleigh led by reindeer but he was delivering Christmas gifts to residents of the nursing home who didn't have family nearby to brighten their day on December 25.

"It's something we do for residents of the nursing home who just don't have someone to come and be part of Christmas with them,” he said.

"It's sad them for them when there is no family around, so we brighten their Christmas up a little bit and provide them with a blessing at this time of year.

"It's important to make them feel loved.”

The contents of the Christmas hampers was donated by the community of Airlie Beach and Cannonvale, they were then boxed, wrapped and delivered by the Salvos.

The hampers contain items that residents would be able to use within the nursing home, such as bathroom products and something for those with a sweet tooth.

Mr Grice said the satisfaction he received from helping people was priceless.

"I would call it a calling,” he said.

"I believe that God has called me to do this work.

" Is it something I would do without that belief? Probably not.

"For me it is a lifelong career to serve God in what ever way the Salvation Army would have me do that.

"Anytime you see that joy that comes over someone's face, when you have been able to make a difference in their life, the personal rewards for that are enormous. You can't translate that into a monetary value.”

"It's just that joy you see in making someone else's life better,” he said.

General manager of the Proserpine Nursing Home, Peter Hill said they tried to make the facility as homely as possible at Christmas but if family were absent it took a toll on residents.

"Their next door neighbour may go home to spend Christmas with family so to have a gift like this to add their feeling of not being forgotten is wonderful,” he said. "It's the extra caring factor the gifts provide.”