The Gift of Giving: The Santa Shoebox Project
The Santa Shoebox Project, a beloved and highly regarded initiative, has been bringing joy to children in South Africa and Namibia for 17 years. Through this project, disadvantaged children receive custom gifts containing essential items and treats, adding a touch of happiness to their festive season. Impressively, a total of 1,152,587 children have experienced the kindness of countless contributors.
This year, the Santa Shoebox Project is adopting a new theme: #ShareTheLove. In an innovative approach, donors are urged to add a duplicate item to their gift box, allowing the child receiving the gift to share the extra item with a friend or family member. This elegantly simple act enables the child to personally embrace the project’s core principle—experiencing the joy of giving.
While significant progress has been made, there are still about 3,500 children waiting for their own Santa Shoebox. With your assistance, we can make their festive season an unforgettable one.
If you are interested in joining this uplifting project, follow these three straightforward steps:
Step 1: Pick Up a Box or More
You can collect Santa Shoeboxes from the customer service desks at Somerset Mall, located in the Edgars and Game Courts, until Saturday, 30 September. The first five boxes are free, and each additional box costs R10. All proceeds go directly to the Santa Shoebox Project.
Step 2: Fill Your Santa Shoebox
Each Santa Shoebox should contain a variety of essential items and treats for the child. When decorating the box, think about using environmentally friendly materials like paint or stickers instead of paper. A personal, handwritten note to the recipient adds a sincere touch and fosters a deep connection.
Remember to print and attach the Santa Shoebox label on the outside of the lid, in the top right-hand corner, and secure the lid to the box with an elastic band. To participate in the #ShareTheLove theme, download and affix a special sticker to the duplicate item, identifying it as a gift for the child to give to a special person in their life.
Step 3: Drop Off and Enjoy
Once your Santa Shoebox is packed and decorated, and the duplicate item is labeled with the #ShareTheLove sticker, you can drop off your completed boxes at the customer service desk between 1 and 28 October.
By taking part in the Santa Shoebox Project, we can all make a significant impact on the lives of underprivileged children. As the project’s philosophy aptly states, “An underprivileged child has the same potential, the same value, and the same full, layered life that a privileged child does; they simply aren’t given the same opportunities.” Together, let us close this gap, empower young lives, and share the love.
