Help fill more than just a shoebox

Santa Shoebox pledges open on Thursday, 1 September and the Toti public is urged to pledge boxes in support of this great initiative.

“Last year we received amazing support from the public and companies like Toyota and Remax, and Amanzimtoti Primary School,” said co-ordinator for Amanzimtoti, Liana Erlank. “With this support, we exceeded our total of 500 boxes.”

When Santa Shoebox Project founders began collecting shoeboxes filled with gifts for underprivileged children in 2006, they never imagined the project would soon become one of SA’s most popular annual festive season charity projects.

This year the Santa Shoebox Project celebrates its 10th birthday. In the 10 years since the project began in a suburban home, it has distributed more than 550,000 personalised shoeboxes to children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds across South Africa and Namibia. More than half of those shoeboxes reached children in far-flung rural areas.

Even more extraordinary are the ‘knock-on effects’ of the project, experienced by recipient children, volunteers and donors alike. In celebration of this wonderful ripple effect, organisers have chosen ‘More Than Just a Shoebox’ as the campaign theme for 2016.

“The campaign focuses on how the donation of a Santa Shoebox not only gifts the recipient child with a personalised shoebox filled with daily necessities, but also instils a sense of self-worth and presents the child with the promise of a better education, improved hygiene and dental health and those simple things that every child should enjoy – sweets and a toy,” said Liana. Donors and volunteers have also benefited from their involvement in the project in incredible ways.

The public is asked to participate in the Santa Shoebox Project by visiting www.santashoebox.org.za from 1 September to register as a donor and select the name and age of a child for whom to make a shoebox.

The gift-wrapped Santa Shoeboxes need to be dropped off at central distribution points across the country on designated dates in October – a list of drop-off locations and dates can be found here. “We have a new drop off venue this year in Toti, at Remax on Lewis Drive,” said Liana.

The following 10 items are required to complete a Santa Shoebox:

1. Standard sized shoebox or plastic container, colourfully decorated.
2. Barcoded label which the donor will receive upon pledging online.
3. Toothbrush
4. Toothpaste
5. Facecloth
6. Soap
7. Toy
8. Outfit of clothing
9. School supplies
10. Sweets

All items must be age-appropriate and new.

For details on how to pledge or how to pack a Santa Shoebox, visit www.santashoebox.org.za or the Santa Shoebox Project facebook page

For more information, call Liana Erlank on 082-612-7772 or email media@santashoebox.co.za.