Santa Shoebox pledges now open
This is the fourth year that this project is taking place in Secunda and according to Ms Peuckert, their goal is to collect 450 boxes that will be handed out to children in Kriel, Evander, eMbalenhle and Trichardt.
SECUNDA – Pledges for the national yearly Santa Shoebox Project opened on 1 September and those who are interested in helping a needy child, can begin to choose who they want to spoil this Christmas.
The Santa Shoebox Project kicked off in 2006 and the goal is to hand out gifts, consisting of eight items, to needy children.
Ms Gerda Peuckert, the coordinator of the project in Secunda, said they aim to hand out their millionth box since the project began.
If you are interested in blessing a child with a gift box this year, visit their website at www.santashoebox.org.za.
On the website, you can choose a child you want to bless and also see the child’s wish list.
This is the fourth year that this project is taking place in Secunda and according to Ms Peuckert, their goal is to collect 450 boxes that will be handed out to children in Kriel, Evander, eMbalenhle and Trichardt.
She encouraged learners to take part in this project during the school holidays.
She also said businesses can challenge each other and see who can donate the most boxes.
The boxes must be completed on Friday, 25 October and can be dropped off on Saturday, 26 October and Sunday, 27 October at Laerskool Goedhoop in Stanford Street in Secunda.
There will be people to receive the boxes from 1pm to 5pm on the Friday, from 10am to 5pm on the Saturday and from 10am to 1.30pm on the Sunday.
The cost of putting a box together is about R250.
Ms Peuckert said a team can also make up a box and split the cost.
Pep is one of the national sponsors of the project and the items can be bought at Pep.
The eight items that should be in the boxes include a toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, a washing cloth, a toy suited for the particular child’s age, school stationery such as pens, pencils, dictionaries or calculators, a set of clothes and sweets.
Anything extra such as water bottles, pencil cases, hats, sunglasses, wallets or hair accessories an also be placed in the boxes.
These items must be placed either in a shoebox, plastic container or wooden container of 25x35x15cm.
An app is available this year where those interested can also view the children’s wish list.
The app can be downloaded on Google Playstore.
For more information, contact Ms Peuckert at 082 499 4662 or send an e-mail to gerda@santashoebox.org.za or visit the website at www.santashoebox.org.za.
