Get into the festive spirit with the Santa Shoebox Project
The festive season is closer than you think, and soon everyone will have the opportunity to embrace the Christmas spirit with a special project.
POLOKWANE – With only a few months left until the end of the year, South Africans can start to donate personalised presents containing essential items and treats to underprivileged children for the annual Santa Shoebox Project. This year, donors have the option to empower the children with the opportunity to give a gift to someone else too.
Pledges for South Africa’s favourite gift-giving initiative opened on September 1, and keeping to this year’s theme, ‘Share the Love’, donors will have the option to duplicate an item in their box and enable the beneficiary child to gift that item to a friend or family member.
“To give these children the experience and joy of giving gifts for themselves sparks other benefits such as personal growth and increased self-esteem,” explained Santa Shoebox Project chief executive officer Deb Zelezniak.
Typically, Santa Shoeboxes contain a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, a facecloth, school supplies, a toy, sweets and an outfit. This year, in addition to the duplicate item provided by the public, Book Dash, which creates African storybooks that anyone can freely download and distribute, will include two books; one for the recipient and the other for them to gift to someone else.
“This encourages the spirit of sharing, as a book is meant to be read together, either with a friend or by a parent or teacher,” Zelezniak added. Since the start of the initiative in 2006, the project reached 1 077 289 children throughout South Africa and Namibia, thanks to the generosity of local donors.
“In 2022, we will positively impact the lives of many more underprivileged people and we appreciate your help in doing so,” concluded Zelezniak.
To share the love or for more information, go to www.santashoebox.org.za.
