#MarchtoaMillion: Santa Shoebox Project makes a massive impact with Covid-19 social relief
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 already dire circumstances
In its 14 years South Africa’s best-loved children’s charity, the Santa Shoebox (SSB) 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 millionth shoebox this year.
To commemorate this magnificent achievement of their March to a Million drive that has been running for the past three years, private donations have been accruing with a view to making a significant difference to the impoverished communities in which SSB beneficiary children 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, SSB founder Irené Pieters extended project funding to organisations doing meaningful work in line with UN Sustainability Development Goals. Irené said SSB goes to great lengths to find and serve rural children who do not receive any aid from government or large NPOs.
“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 already dire circumstances. Much of what is being done right now in response to Covid-19 is relief, not solution. We balanced our donations to address preserving lives and livelihoods.”
She explained that their legacy project, #beyondtheshoebox, is aimed at food security, income generation, education, infrastructure support, addressing 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.”
For detailed information about each donation, visit the SSB Project Facebook page.
Teams pledging 50 shoeboxes or more, which includes corporate CSI pledges, are facilitated from 3 August. Traditional pledging opens to the public on 1 September. From this date, donors are able to pledge SSB online, selecting children living in and around their community by name, age, gender and clothing size.
The public can participate in the SSB Project by visiting www.santashoebox.org.za to register as a supporter.
From 1 September, donors will be able to choose the child/ ren for whom they wish to pledge a shoebox. The decorated 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 can be found here.
The following items are required to complete a SSB:
- Standard-sized shoebox or plastic container, colourfully decorated, with the lid wrapped separately
- QR coded label, which will be emailed to the donor upon pledging online
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Facecloth
- Soap
- Toy
- Outfit of clothing
- School supplies
- Sweets
All items must be new, unused and age-appropriate.
For more information, contact the project liaison at info@santashoebox.org.za
