Yes, it may already be March and Valentine’s Day is long past, but work at the Santa Shoebox Project is an all-year affair and the North Pole needs help from the East Rand.

Currently in its 20th year, the organisation has not only brought smiles and festive cheer to thousands of children but has made an invaluable investment in upgrading and building Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, while offering accredited training and upskilling to educators.

In celebration of two decades of smiles and development, the Santa Shoebox Project is calling of enthusiastic East Rand residents to join their army of elves.

“We are looking for volunteers to join our dedicated on-the-ground team to make 2026 a year of more cheer, feel-good- moments and of course more boxes,” said Margie Kostelac, sponsorship and regional manager for the Santa Shoebox Project in Gauteng.

“As we celebrate this milestone birthday, we have an opportunity to expand our volunteer network and rope them in to amazing celebrations and campaigns.”

The task of the volunteer is simple, charge your warm heart and donate a couple of hours of your time to ensure that more than 75 000 children, across the country, experience the magic, joy and dignity that the organisation provides.

Volunteers need to be available from September 1 and tasks include:

• Collection of packed and personalised boxes from pledgers.

• Quality-check each box before distribution.

• Liaise with vetted schools, ECD centres and other registered beneficiaries in their communities to arrange joy-filled handovers to the children on Santa’s list.

“The support of our magnificent volunteers, donors and sponsors has created countless moments of sheer joy,” said Deb Zelezniak, CEO of the Santa Shoebox Project.

“Giving to a child might seem like a small act of generosity to the giver, but it can make a big difference to a child’s life, and many children treasure their letters and gifts into adulthood.”

For more information or to claim you title a one of the organisation’s elves, go to www.santashoebox.org.za to sign up as a volunteer for 2026.

Or follow them on any of these platforms:

• www.facebook.com/SantaShoebox/
• www.linkedin.com/company/santa-shoebox-project/
• www.instagram.com/santashoebox/
• www.tiktok.com/@santa.shoebox