Why you can give? Because it is good …

With ‘Giving for Good’ as this year’s theme, the heartwarming Santa Shoebox Project once again will take up the challenge of collecting 100 000 festive season gifts for children from vulnerable social backgrounds.

Over the past nine years over 450 000 gifts have placed a smile on as many faces of youngsters at orphanages, children’s homes and care centres across the country, and even as far as Namibia.

This year’s goal is to go beyond this challenge with innovative new initiatives that take giving for good beyond the boundaries of the shoebox drive and making positive changes in these children’s lives – for good.

The Virtual Box option for donors to make their pledges online, which was introduced last year, is proving popular as many donors don’t live close to any of the Santa Shoebox Drop-Off zones.

Last year additional avenues were introduced to support the core shoebox drive and these focus on collecting complementary, critical items. Kind-hearted donors now also can show their support by donating Proudly South African raincoats to children who live in high winter rainfall areas to keep them dry on their way to school every day. Corporate clients and other benefactors have an opportunity to make a financial donation towards the Santa Shoebox Legacy Fund, which was created to provide additional support to children’s facilities.

With the first funding received, the Santa Shoebox Project has partnered with the South African Red Cross Society to train caregivers at selected beneficiary organisations in basic first aid. All of these options can be done easily via the new Santa Shoebox website www.santashoebox.org.za.

The gift-wrapped Santa Shoeboxes need to be dropped off at the Khosa Sports Club in Shannon Road by the last weekend of October. Click through to Local Drop-Off Zone on the website to access details and directions for your area.

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