Kaboutjie SA Mommy Blogs by Lynne Huysamen
Have you heard of the Santa Shoebox Project? The Santa Shoebox Project collects and distributes gifts for underprivileged children in South Africa and Namibia.
Members of the public can register on their website and pledge a Santa Shoebox to a child in need. The children’s names, ages and genders are on the website so you can choose the child that you want to pledge a Santa Shoebox to.
This year the Santa Shoebox Project has been running for 12 years and they are aiming to reach 1 million children by 2019.
This year my family is joining in and we will be pledging a Santa Shoebox for two children – one from each of my children and I will let them each choose their recipient, decorate the box and choose the gifts to fill it with.
Make a difference this year and join in too, let’s help the Santa Shoebox Project their goal of 1 million children this year.
Here is the official press release from The Santa Shoebox Project:
The Santa Shoebox Project is officially a “tween”! At 12-years old, South Africa’s best loved children’s charity has touched the lives of 762 594 underprivileged children throughout South Africa and Namibia.
When a donor pledges a Santa Shoebox, they promise a child the gift of self-worth and fulfilled potential. These are so much more than “just” a shoebox; each donor fills a decorated shoebox with 8 required items – a toothbrush and toothpaste, soap and a facecloth, school supplies, a toy, sweets and an outfit of clothing.
This year, for the first time in the Project’s history, pledging will open a full month earlier than before – on 01 August. From this date, donors are able to select children who live in their area, thus supporting their own larger community.
Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the Project, Irené Pieters, says, “This Project has a life of its own! Every year brings change. We’ve heard our supporters – sponsors, beneficiaries and volunteers alike – and in response have given them the gift of time, by taking some of the rush out of the end of the year.”
One year into our March To A Million, TIME is of the essence! Time is marching on and there’s no time like the present to become involved. To ensure you receive campaign updates, and are kept informed of milestones and deadlines, please like the Santa Shoebox Project’s Facebook page /SantaShoebox and login to the website to register or update your supporter profile www.santashoebox.org.za
This year, the Project hopes to take another massive leap towards the magic million, and receive 115 000 lovingly created Shoeboxes.
4 000 Virtual Santa Shoeboxes will also be on offer, enabling busy donors or those who live far from Drop Off points to select the contents of a personalized Shoebox, which will be packed by Santa Shoebox volunteers. A generic option will also be available, which the Project is able to allocate to children living in remote rural areas, who would otherwise not receive a Shoebox.
This is a wonderful initiative.
It breaks my heart when I think of all the children that are under privileged and will not be getting anything for Christmas.
After all, Christmas is the time of giving. And when I say giving I don’t necessarily mean giving each other a present. Giving to the under privileged and the lonely, especially the elderly, the animals that doesn’t have a forever home and making a child smile.
Christmas has become so commercialized. It is wonderful to give each other a small gift and I love the spirit of Christmas with the Christmas carols , tinsel and decorations.
But I never forget what the true meaning of Christmas is.
Giving is so much more rewarding than receiving. I will be liking the Facebook page and checking out the website.
I would like to read more about this and possibly sponsor a Santa’s shoebox to a child in need.
Thanks for sharing this with us @Lynne and creating awareness.