Santa Shoebox Project is an inspiring community initiative, that collects uniquely personalised Christmas gifts for socially disadvantaged youth. Equally, the project is about parents teaching their own children the joy of giving. A gift to be shared with a child from a distinctly vulnerable social background, who may never before have received a Christmas gift. The project is unique in that the donor knows the name, age, gender and residence of the child the gift is intended for.The project started in Cape Town in 2006 spearheaded by the founder of Kidz2Kidz, Dee Boehner. In 2007 Irene’ Pieters was appointed national co-ordinator and in 2008 the Santa Shoebox Project joined forces with a similar organization from Somerset West. Since then, the project has grown in leaps and bounds and the numbers have grown from 180 Santa Shoeboxes in 2006, to 2000 boxes in 2007, 8000 in 2008 to 16000 in 2009, exceeding the target by 30% - 50% year on year. In 2009 the Santa Shoebox Project reached into all corners of South Africa and in 2010 also into Namibia and Botswana. Each country supporting their own children. The management is run entirely by volunteers. Kind hearted people who give their time, effort and expertise without being remunerated for it. Satellite projects have sprung up not only in the big cities but include many small country towns as well. All run by volunteers taking the responsibility of acting as co-ordinators for their areas.How can you help?
The prosperity and success of this project is dependent solely on its volunteers. You can choose between being a volunteer or a co-ordinator of a satellite project in your area. If you would like to volunteer some of your time and expertise please mosey on over to their website and fill your details in.Help them reach their target of collecting 26 000 boxes this year. I know I will.
