THE Santa Shoebox Project is an inspiring community initiative that collects uniquely personalised gifts for underprivileged children.
Equally, the project is about parents teaching their own children the joy of giving.
Gifts are distributed to children from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds, who may never before have received a gift.
The project is unique in that the donor knows the name, age, and gender of the child to whom the gift is given.
The project is supported by an extensive network of volunteers across South Africa and Namibia – kind-hearted people who give freely of their time, energy and expertise without remuneration.
There are eight prescribed items that need to be in each beautifully decorated shoebox.
A cake of soap, a face cloth, toothpaste, and a toothbrush, stationery, sweets, an outfit of clothing and a toy. Items must be new and age-appropriate for the recipient.
You might also consider purchasing a reusable bag to put into your shoebox.
They fold nice and small and your recipient child will have a bag in which to carry his or her shoebox home – plastic-free!
A Team Pledge is the perfect corporate team building and Festive Season CSI initiative.
There is support and easy step-by-step instructions to make the pledging of 20 Santa Shoeboxes or more, an absolute breeze (and a lot of fun of course). Contact teampledge@santashoebox.org.za for more information.
The Santa Shoebox Project (SSB) is aiming to provide a total of 100 000 gift boxes this year. Name lists are ready for September 1, when pledging opens on the website.
To register and for more information, log on to www.santashoebox.org.za
