With the Santa Shoebox Project celebrating 20 years of bringing joy to vulnerable children, three out of every four children on the Potchefstroom list are still waiting for someone to choose them.

South Africa’s beloved Santa Shoebox Project is making an urgent appeal to communities across the country to open their hearts and pledge a Christmas box to a child who is still waiting.

This year, 84 663 children across South Africa are on the list to receive a Santa Shoebox, including children from the Potchefstroom district.

While the national project has already passed the 50% pledging mark, Potchefstroom is currently sitting at only 24%.

This means that around three-quarters of the children on the local list are still waiting to be chosen.

And these are not just numbers.

They are real children, each with a name, an age and a gender. Waiting for someone to make them feel special this Christmas.

The Santa Shoebox Project, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has brought joy to more than 1.5 million children since it began in 2006.

Each personalised shoebox is carefully prepared for a specific child and contains eight essential items, including toiletries, educational supplies, clothing, a toy and sweets.

For many children, receiving a box with their own name on it, clothes in their size and gifts chosen specifically for them can be a profoundly meaningful experience.

It is more than simply a Christmas present.

It is a reminder that someone thought about them, chose them and cared enough to make Christmas special for them.

“The Santa Shoebox Project is one big,  beautiful story, made up of more than a million and a half beautiful chapters of giving and receiving joy since 2006,” said Santa Shoebox Project CEO Deb Zelezniak.

“With 70 drop-off points around the country, in every single province, and thousands of volunteers and donors making the magic happen, we are truly grateful for the collective impact of our incredible community.”

The project’s campaign theme, #WhatAPledgeStarts, captures the impact that a single pledge can have.

“A pledge is a promise made to a specific child,” said Zelezniak. “When someone chooses a child by name, age and gender, they aren’t just shopping for supplies. They are creating an experience where a child in their community, whom they’ve never met, feels important and loved.”

For the children, the boxes provide both practical necessities and moments of pure childhood joy.

Soap, a washcloth, toothpaste and a toothbrush support health and dignity. New clothing in the correct size can inspire pride and self-esteem. Age-appropriate stationery helps children participate at school, while a toy and sweets simply allow them to experience the joy of being a child.

The Santa Shoebox Project has 70 drop-off points across South Africa, with the Potchefstroom drop-off taking place at Shooting for the Stars, 14 Neethling Street, Baillie Park, on 30 October from 10:00 to 16:30.

The local coordinator is Bianca Fernandes, who can be contacted on 072 693 8352 or via biancafernandes@santashoebox.org.za.

With Christmas drawing closer, the message to the Potchefstroom community is simple: there are children here who are still waiting.

Someone can choose them.

Someone can fill a box just for them.

And someone can give them a Christmas memory they may carry with them for years to come.

The Santa Shoebox Project has already reached more than 1.5 million children over the past two decades and continues to work towards creating lasting change through its SSP Legacy programme, which supports rural schools, Early Childhood Development centres, teacher training and reading initiatives.

But right now, the immediate need is the children still waiting on the 2026 list.

Potchefstroom has pledged 24%. There is still a long way to go.

To pledge a Santa Shoebox and choose a child by name, age and gender, visit santashoebox.org.za/pledge-a-santa-shoebox/⁠

Because every child deserves to know that, this Christmas, someone chose them.