Santa Shoebox Project supports organisations during Covid-19 crisis
"Santa Shoebox goes to great lengths to find and serve rural children who do not receive aid from government or large non-profit organisations
Now in its 15th year, South Africa?s best-loved children?’s charity, the Santa Shoebox Project, has touched the lives of 957 297 underprivileged children throughout South Africa and in Namibia.
With its annual reach extending to up to 100 000 children, the project will be receiving and handing out its one-millionth Shoebox in 2020.For the past three years as part of the Project’s March To A Million, private donations have been accruing with a view to making a significant difference to the impoverished communities in which the young Santa Shoebox beneficiaries live.
What better time than right now, in the throes of Covid-19, to alleviate suffering and uplift lives in the hardest-hit areas of South Africa. With this in mind, Santa Shoebox founder, Irené Pieters has extended project funding to organisations doing meaningful work in line with UN Sustainability Development Goals.
“Santa Shoebox goes to great lengths to find and serve rural children who do not receive aid from government or large non-profit organisations. During these uncertain times, the children and their families suffer the same devastating effects as those living in urban parts of the country, with the impact worsening their already dire circumstances. Much of what is being done right now in response to Covid-19 is relief, not a solution. We balanced our donations to address preserving lives and livelihoods. Our Legacy project #beyondtheshoebox is aimed at food security, income-generation, education, infrastructure support, gender-based violence, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean electricity, and climate action. Covid-19 has accelerated and re-prioritised the Project’s goals,” Irene said.
For detailed information about each donation, visit the Santa Shoebox Project’s Facebook page. Team-pledging of 50 Shoeboxes or more, which includes corporate pledges, are facilitated from 3 August this year.
Traditional pledging opens to the public on 1 September. From this date, donors are able to pledge Santa Shoeboxes online, selecting children living in and around their community by name, age, gender and clothing size.
The public is asked to participate in the Santa Shoebox Project now by visiting www.santashoebox.org.za to register as a supporter. From 1 September donors will be able to choose the child or children for whom they wish to pledge a Shoebox.
The decorated Santa Shoeboxes need to be dropped off at central distribution points across the country on designated dates in October and November.
From 1 August a list of these points can be found here.
