The project has reached 80% of its national target, with 85,000 children still waiting to be sponsored ahead of the festive season. November will be dedicated to shoebox drop-offs and celebrations, with the project aiming to deliver boxes to children at more than a thousand schools and early childhood development centres across the country.

The Santa Shoebox Project is a South African non-profit organisation that collects and distributes personalised gifts to underprivileged and socially vulnerable children at Christmas time. Since its inception in 2006, more than 1.5-million children in South Africa and Namibia have been reached. Numerous kindergartens with vegetable gardens have also been established.

How it works is that there are personalised pledges where donors sign up online to pledge a shoebox for a specific child, receiving the child’s name, age, gender, and clothing size. There are eight required items for each box; they are decorated and packed with a toothbrush and toothpaste, a bar of soap and a washcloth (facecloth), school supplies, an outfit of clothing, a toy, and sweets.

“We have been inundated with kindness and generosity in this, our twentieth birthday year,” said Santa Shoebox Project CEO Deb Zelezniak. “South Africans across our beautiful country have stepped up with open hearts to support children in need.”

“The shoebox is not just a gift. It is a dignifying shoebox full of essentials, treats, and all-important school supplies. For these kids, receiving your shoebox means that they are being set up for the school year ahead, to be able to put their hand up in confidence, to be able to succeed and reach their potential.

“Every single pledge counts. For people living throughout South Africa, I think to choose just one child, for example, the same age or gender as your own child, and let those children learn the joy of giving.”

The Free State has reached 90% of its pledge target, with Bloemfontein standing at 91%. The Northern Cape is among the strongest-performing provinces at 96%, with Kimberley also recording 96%. However, the North West remains at 46%, with Potchefstroom at 43% and Rustenburg at 49%, highlighting the need for additional sponsors in these areas.

South Africans can visit the website to select a child and pledge a traditional shoebox through one of the project’s 70 drop-off points nationwide. Those unable to pack a physical box can contribute towards a virtual Santa Shoebox for R500. These boxes are packed by the project team and delivered to children in remote rural communities, where local donor networks may be limited.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg

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