Dawit Seifu, Noor Alamliki, Anayat Ghazi and Nyandak Rishul are part of the more than 100 refugees and migrants giving to the food bank.

Refugees and migrants in Auckland have come together to donate food to Kiwis for Christmas.

Most of the group are from cultures that don't celebrate the religious holiday.

The students at English Language Partners West were asked to bring one food item each for its Christmas food bank initiative.

Manager Jean Harding said she was surprised when more than 100 students walked in with bags full of food, new toys for children and even gifts for women.

READ MORE:

* 9-year-old creates giving Christmas tree for those in need

* 12 rays of Christmas supports Ruapehu community projects

* Food banks need help all-year round

﻿"They have come to this country with nothing but they have chosen to give to help others in need," Harding said.

TORIKA TOKALAU/STUFF Donated items included food, toys, toiletries and gifts for women.

Dawit Seifu was one of the more than 100 refugees and migrants who gave to the cause.

Despite only being in New Zealand for two months from Ethiopia, unemployed and with limited english proficiency, he said he chose to give because he knew what it was like to be poor.

"I know what it is like to be in need, even now I am still poor but I get Government assistance and I can help out, even just a little bit," Seifu said.

Nyandak Rishul from Tibet said he believed everybody needed help sometimes.

"Rich people or poor people, we all need help."

For Noor Alamliki from Iraq and Anayat Ghazi from Afghanistan, giving was a part of their culture, they said.

TORIKA TOKALAU/STUFF The migrants and refugees are from countries like Ethiopia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Tibet and Myanmar.

"My mum used to make food and give it to our neighbours because they didn't have much, giving is part of who we are."

Harding said the response from the migrants and refugees had been overwhelming.

She said the students were not giving items from their pantries but spending money to buy things to donate.

"I keep crying seeing all that they've donated, particularly as most of them aren't Christians. Most of them don't celebrate this holiday.

"And there's food items, new toys, sun cream and face cream for women and children – these things aren't cheap … it is just overwhelming."

The food items collected from their Mt Roskill, Massey and New Lynn centres would be given to the Salvation Army, she said.