Santa Shoebox is 10 years old

The festive season is fast approaching and with it comes the annual Santa Shoebox project.

This year marks the 10th birthday of an initiative that has become a favourite way for South Africans to give over the festive period. The project started with a humble 180 shoeboxes donated in the first year and grew to more than half a million donated to underprivileged children across Namibia and South Africa. Pledging for this year’s Santa Shoebox Project opened on 1 September and a staggering 13 141 boxes were pledged – and the number is growing by the hour.

The Santa Shoebox satellite office supports nursery, primary and high schools, as well as feeding and community projects across the West Rand, which include those in Krugersdorp, Krugersdorp West, Munsieville, Swanieville, Slovoville, Roodepoort and Randfontein. For the sake of protecting those involved and the sensitive nature of the project, information about the beneficiaries and children cannot be shared.

The Santa Shoebox project is a favourite with families, individuals and corporate donors because it is highly personalised. A donor can choose the child they want to sponsor by name, age and gender. Donors are reminded that a pledge is a promise that should be kept.

The theme for this year is More than just a shoebox, to emphasise the impact each of the eight prescribed items has on the life of an underprivileged child.

These eight items need to be in the Santa Shoebox:

? A toothbrush and toothpaste promise dental health and a confident smile.

? A facecloth and soap give the assurance of good hygiene and health.

? School supplies support quality education.

? The item of clothing encourages great self-esteem.

? The toy and sweets reinforce the fact that every child should be loved and spoiled.

The aim of the Santa Shoebox project this year is to collect 100 000 shoeboxes to donate to children throughout the country. Suzelle, South Africa’s DIY celebrity, has created a YouTube video in which she describes how to pledge and pack a Santa Shoebox, creating awareness around donors’ pledges being their promise – not only to pack the shoebox, but to deliver it to the correct drop-off point on the allocated dates and times.

To participate in this worthy project you can register online at www.santashoebox.org.za to receive notifications and information. This year the drop-off is on 28 October at the Pigeon Hall at the back of Khosa Club, Shannon Road, Kenmare in Krugersdorp.

For more information contact Michele on 082 678 6151 or email michele@santashoebox.org.za, or Michell on 082 222 6666. You can also visit the website https://santashoebox.org.za.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.

For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Randfontein Herald, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine

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