Step into Santa’s shoes and share the Christmas spirit
Last year the Ballito group distributed close to 1000 Santa Shoeboxes to needy children at five local facilities.
When the founders of the Santa Shoebox Project began collecting shoeboxes filled with gifts for underprivileged children in 2006, they never imagined that the project would soon become one of South Africa’s most popular festive season charity projects.
To date the project has distributed more than 550 000 personalised shoeboxes to socially disadvantaged children across South Africa and Namibia.
The Ballito satellite is now in its fourth year, catering for children from as young as two years old, to 18.
Last year the target was 750 shoeboxes and the Ballito group distributed close to 1000 Santa Shoeboxes to needy children at five local facilities.
The target for 2016 is 1000 boxes.
Donors register online at www.santashoebox.co.za and then select a child by name, age and gender as well as their preferred drop-off point.
Pledging opened on September 1.
Donors decorate and fill their shoebox according to the guidelines provided on the website.
They must include eight practical necessities – toothpaste and a toothbrush, facecloth and soap as well as sweets, educational supplies, a toy and a clothing outfit. All items must be new and age-appropriate.
“This worthy initiative encourages the whole family to become involved and adopt it as a family project providing an opportunity for children to learn from an early age, the gift of giving,” said local co-ordinators Natalie Smith and Kirsten Abery.
“Donors are encouraged to involve their own children in the process of personally selecting the name of a child and putting together his or her personal Santa Shoebox gift.”
Uniquely, this means each participant knows the first name, age and gender of the child.
“The box is then dropped off at the donors’ local registered drop-off point on the appointed days and is then distributed by Santa Shoebox volunteers to the children in November.”
The Ballito drop-off is November 4 and 5 at Christ Church North Coast, 1 Old Main Road, Umhlali.
For more details on pledging a box or volunteering at drop-off, visit www.santashoebox.co.za or contact Kirsten Abery at 083 326 3968 or Natalie Smith at 082 372 0500.
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