Kenato Glass Brokers, a Dinwiddie-based company, has taken the plunge and become involved in this year’s Santa Shoebox Project.
The company donated a total of 118 boxes to Bethesda House, a shelter for abused and vulnerable women and their children, based in Benoni, last Monday.
“We recently hosted a Golf Day and wondered how we could put the funds to good use,” explained Tammy Westernberg.
It was then that the team came across the Santa Shoebox Project.
“I contacted our incredible boss, Mark van Rooyen, and told him our idea.
“He was on board from the beginning.”
The team at Kenato Glass Brokers started packing the boxes on Thursday, September 25, and together were able to shop, pack, wrap and have all the boxes ready for handover last Monday.
Outreach officer Samantha Moagi and house mother Margret Mthimkulu, from Bethesda House, attended the handover on the home’s behalf.
Bethesda House was founded by Pastor David Sagathevan, and can be found at the corner of Lancaster and Dagenham roads, in Benoni.
The home was started with the vision of empowering abused women and children, offering them a place of safety in their time of need.
The home also aims to equip them with the skills to overcome the challenging and desperate circumstances they face.
The home was thrilled with the donation.
“The best part will be seeing the children’s faces when they find something under the Christmas tree with their name on it,” said Moagi.
Margie Kostelac, national sponsorship and Gauteng regional coordinator of the Santa Shoebox Project, also attended the handover and was thrilled with the participation of the team from Kenato Glass Brokers.
She hopes other local companies will follow their lead.
“We hope this will become a yearly project,” said Westernberg in conclusion.
For more information on how you can get involved in this wonderful initiative visit the project’s website at www.santashoebox.org.za.
