Be part of the Santa Shoebox initiative

The Santa Shoebox Project collects and distributes gifts to underprivileged children throughout South Africa and Namibia.

Now running in its 12th year, the charity project has reached over 760 000 children, with the aim of reaching one million by 2019.

For the first time in the project’s history, pledging for 2018 opened in August.

Chief executive officer and founder of the project Irené Pieters said the project has a life of its own.

“Every year brings a change,” said Pieters.

“We have heard our supporters, sponsors, beneficiaries and volunteers alike and in response, given them the gift of time, an extra month to put their shoeboxes together.

“It also takes some of the rush out of the end of the year.”

This is in an effort to allow donors to select children who live in their area, thereby supporting their own community.

This year, the project hopes to take another massive leap towards the magic million and hopes to receive 115 000 lovingly created shoeboxes.

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According to the organisation, when a donor pledges a Santa Shoebox, they promise a child the gift of self-worth and fulfilled potential and this is much more than just a “shoebox”.

The following items are required to complete a Santa Shoebox:

• Standard sized shoebox or plastic container, colourfully decorated, with the lid wrapped separately

• QR coded label, which the donor will receive upon pledging online

• Toothbrush

• Toothpaste

• Facecloth

• Soap

• Toy

• Outfit of clothing

• School Supplies

• Sweets.

The decorated Santa Shoeboxes need to be dropped off at central distribution points across the country on designated dates in September and October and all items must be new, unused and age-appropriate.

A list of these can be found here: https://santashoebox.org.za/find-my-local-dropoff/

According to the organisation, 4 000 virtual Santa Shoeboxes will also be on offer.

This will enable busy donors or those who live far from drop-off points to select the contents of a personalised shoebox, which will be packed by Santa Shoebox volunteers.

A generic option will also be available, which the project is able to allocate to children living in remote rural areas, who would otherwise not receive a shoebox.

Visit www.santashoebox.org.za to register as a supporter.

For more information contact Debbie Zelezniak on 082 377 1819 or send an email to debbie@santashoebox.org.za

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