Sid Patel with children, staff and parents at Central Kids Kindergarten in Huntly. Patel is a business owner in Huntly, Putaruru and Kāwhia, communities in which he donates heavily during the Christmas period.

Christmas has come early for rural Waikato schoolchildren, thanks to one man's generosity.

Businessman Sid Patel was at Huntly Central Kindergarten on Friday to give each child a bag containing a new lunch box, colouring pens and toys.

This Christmas is just one of many where Patel has worked to ensure no child in the district ever misses out.

JOSH ADAM/SUPPLIED Sid Patel has donated almost 50 bikes to the children of Kāwhia Primary School.

Patel owns the KBeez superettes in Huntly and Putaruru, where he provides free fruit and bread year round to schoolkids, but it's at home in Kāwhia where his generosity is most felt.

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Last Wednesday, Patel donated new bicycles to the Years 1 to 7 children of decile one Kāwhia Primary School, and Samsung smartphones for Year 8 students preparing to attend college out of town.

JOSH ADAM/SUPPLIED Sid Patel with nine-year-old Anthony Taylor and Kāwhia Primary principal Leanne Apiti.

"My dad would put food every day on my table, but I did miss out on presents like bikes. My philosophy, if I'm giving presents, it has to be equal for everybody."

Patel owns the Kāwhia Motel and has long been a supporter of the 54 children at Kāwhia primary. In 2015, he donated $30,000 worth of computers, has gifted tablets to the kids, and continues to purchase the children's stationery every year.

"Kāwhia school in a not very healthy position - it needed a hand badly. When I went there, there were only two or three computers and mostly they were not up to standard."

JOSH ADAM/SUPPLIED Taane-Whaingaroa Thom, 7, rides a bike gifted by Kāwhia Motel owner Sid Patel.

Patel has long struggled with dyslexia and is illiterate. Technology has been a great enabler for him - he uses the dictation function on an iPhone to read emails - so technology has been the focus of previous gifts.

Now facing health issues, he wanted to give bikes to encourage healthy living.

And while such generosity might be considered a sign of wealth, Patel describes himself as average. The bikes were bought on layby.

"We also have a day-to-day struggle. When it comes to kids, it doesn't take me a second to take out the money."

Kāwhia school principal Leanne Apiti knew of the surprise donation and had to "secretly" measure the children to ensure each bike would fit.

"You see all the bikes parked up at school - usually there're only one or two and now we've got almost almost fifty parked up."

Misty Campbell, who has four children new to Kāwhia Primary, said the family were in tears at "top man" Patel's generosity.

"I have a big family and we're into buying just one big present, but the children got something each."

Patel knew her youngest at the school, five-year-old Realigh Rangiawha, was autistic and would not ride a bike. So, Realigh now has a bluetooth boombox with flashing disco lights.

"He wouldn't let us touch it until two hours later, when he was asleep and it was wrapped in his arms.

Her Year 8 son, Kenneth Bishop, received a smartphone. It's a huge weight off Campbell's shoulders, as Kenneth will be boarding at Otorohanga College next year.

"That was a big tick off our list, for him going to college, it will be easier for us to keep in contact. I'll miss the boy."

Tineke Maoate, who has two daughters at the school, said Kāwhia was lucky to have Patel.

"There are kids out here with poverty that just could never have dreamed of having a bike, and he made that possible.

"We call him our Kāwhia Santa Claus. He's made a lot of dreams come true for these kids."