Christmas giving in spring
JOHANNESBURG – Although Christmas is a few months away, charity workers need your help to make the Christmas wishes of underprivileged children come true.
Although Christmas is more than three months away, charity workers need to get an early start on Christmas charity collections.
One such generous person, 26-year-old Edenvale resident, Candice-Lee Figueira, is encouraging community members all over Johannesburg to put together a shoebox of goodies for underprivileged youth aged from four to 18. Figueira is part of the Santa Shoebox Project, which aims to provide useful and fun gifts to those who are less fortunate.
Those who are interested in being part of this project can contact Figueira to choose the age and gender of the child or children that he or she wants to treat.
Figueira said, “We need to consider the age of the children when filling the boxes. Example, children who are between four and eight need stationery such as wax crayons and coloured paper, whereas the children who are slightly older need dictionaries, calculators and ballpoint pens.”
Once the age and gender of the child have been determined, residents are encouraged to fill boxes with an age-appropriate outfit, toothpaste, educational supplies, soap, facecloth, sweets and a toy. Figueira will provide the clothing size of the child so that the clothing fits properly.
She added that the pupils who are preparing for their matric year in 2017, desperately need scientific calculators and batteries for subjects such as mathematics and science.
Figueira stressed that although all donations are appreciated, the shoebox should not contain any medication, vitamins, sharp objects or fragile items such as glass. “Please place all liquids in ziplock bags so that the contents cannot leak out and ruin the Santa Shoebox. Also, remember the age of the child that you are donating to, for example, you cannot give marbles to a two-year-old who could choke.”
The gifts will have an extremely personal touch as the charitable residents are given the name of the child that they are giving the shoebox to and are encouraged to write a special Christmas card for this child.
You can compile as many boxes as you wish, and once they have been completed, residents are asked to please contact Figueira to make arrangements for the collection.
One of the drop-offs in the area is at 45 Lurgan Road, Johannesburg, 2193. Details of other drop-off zones are available on the Santa Shoebox Website.
Details: Candice.figueira@fnb.co.za
