Less than half of Santa shoeboxes remain unfilled

More than half of the number of projected boxes to be filled for this year’s Santa Shoebox Project are complete.

“An incredible 290 boxes have been pledged already, that’s 63% done,” said co-ordinator for Amanzimtoti, Liana Erlank.

“Toyota employees have done over 100 boxes and staff at Remax have done 58 to date. They even put a special touch on theirs with personalised facecloths with each child’s name on it.

We would like to challenge other businesses to get involved and do the same.”

When the project founders began collecting shoeboxes filled with gifts for underprivileged children in 2006, they never imagined the project would soon become one of SA’s most popular annual festive season charity projects.

This year the project celebrates its 10th birthday. In the decade since the project began in a suburban home, it has distributed more than 550,000 personalised shoeboxes to children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds across South Africa and Namibia. More than half of those reached children in far-flung rural areas.

Even more extraordinary are the knock-on effects of the project, experienced by recipient children, volunteers and donors alike. In celebration of this wonderful ripple effect, organisers have chosen ‘More than just a shoebox’ as the campaign theme for 2016.

The public is asked to participate in the Santa Shoebox Project by visiting www.santashoebox.org.za to register as a donor, select the name and age of a child for whom they will make a shoebox and find out where the gift-wrapped boxes need to be dropped off.

The following 10 items are required to complete a Santa Shoebox:

• Standard sized shoebox or plastic container, colourfully decorated
• Barcoded label which the donor will receive upon pledging online
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Facecloth
• Soap
• Toy
• Outfit of clothing
• School supplies
• Sweets

All items must be age-appropriate and new. For more information, call Liana on 082-612-7772 or email media@santashoebox.co.za