Santa Shoebox may be a child’s only gift this year

With the festive season fast approaching, South Africans now have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the country’s children, especially as six in 10 are multidimensionally poor.

“For the past 16 years, the Santa Shoebox Project (SSP) has been bringing joy to over one million children throughout South Africa and Namibia and the impact is tangible,” said Deb Zelezniak, CEO of the SSP. This is comprised of four initiatives – traditional Santa Shoebox, virtual Santa Shoebox, Santa Shoebox Legacy and Kidz2Kidz.

Andrea Venter, a former children’s home resident and one of the first SSP recipients, shared that for many children this is the only gift that they receive all year.

“I will never forget when I was given my first Santa Shoebox. I was 17 and the excitement was overwhelming. I still have the hairbrush that came in the box to this day and wish I had kept the note from the donor. It was a letter of encouragement, to not give up and it meant so much to me,” Andrea said.

She continued, “It felt like someone cared for me. This is why, when I became a donor some 10 years later and was putting together my shoebox, I put all the love that I could into that box. I just knew that it would be going to a child who would have the biggest smile on their face, just like I did all those years ago.

“And it wasn’t because of the actual contents, but simply because somebody out there cared enough to send me a present even though they had never met me.”

For Yona Gxasheka, who was brought up by her grandmother following the death of her mother, her gift meant that she got to be a child again.

“Growing up, I was very conscious of our financial constraints. For instance, there would be days when I wouldn’t eat because I gave my food to my sister or wouldn’t go to school because I didn’t have books.

“I was so excited to receive that present, but most of all about the outfit that I was given to wear on Christmas Day,” she said.

Andrea’s advice for those considering becoming an SSP donor is to remember that one can’t put a price on a child’s happiness.

“While times have been tough financially for many South Africans this year, that box will mean the absolute world to the child who receives it.”

Deb pointed out that if it isn’t feasible to put a box together, there is the option of volunteering your time at one of the drop-off points around the country.

Yona, who is today both a volunteer and donor, commented, “It will be the best decision you’ve ever made – just wait until you see the change in those children when they get their presents!”

“This year, under the theme of Share the Love, we will be giving our beneficiary children the chance to experience the joy of giving for themselves by being able to gift a duplicate item in their shoebox to a friend or family member. After all, isn’t that what the festive season is all about?” concluded Deb.

To share the love or for more information, go to www.santashoebox.org.za.

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