GEORGE NEWS - Will the real Santa Shoebox volunteers please stand up? After a woman illegitimately collected donations under the banner of Santa Shoebox last year, casting doubt over the legitimacy of the project, Jolindy Dreyer, who drives the project locally, wants to set the record straight.
The Santa Shoebox Project is a non-profit organisation that has been collecting gifts at Christmas time for thousands of underprivileged children since 2006. Dreyer explains that this heart-warming project is an initiative of the Kidz2Kidz Trust (IT2671/2009), a registered Public Benefit (PBO 930031301) and non-profit organisation (NPO 102-098) with Section 18A status, that offers assistance to children in need. The project that's been bringing Christmas joy to underprivileged children in the Garden Route for the last two years, is driven solely by volunteers.
"The target for the Garden Route for 2019 is 1 500 shoeboxes, to be dispatched to more than 10 crèches and schools that are in desperate need of assistance. This year we are starting early, so please get on board," says Dreyer.
She asks parents to get their kids involved by letting them personally choose and fill a box. The programme relies on the kind backing of various corporate sponsors pledging monetary or pro bono logistics support, while many companies involve their staff members to pledge Santa Shoeboxes as part of their corporate social investment programmes.
Each donor only knows the first name, age, gender, and care institution of the child the gift is for. The Santa Shoebox Project not only manages the network and distributes the gifts but also provides content guidelines for each individual gift box, to ensure that every child receives an age appropriate gift.
"Typically this will comprise some necessities, such as toothpaste and toothbrush, facecloth and soap, as well as some sweets, educational supplies, a toy and an outfit of clothing."
"We need volunteers and donors so that we can all make a bigger difference to the needy children in our communities," says Dreyer. If you want to get involved, please e-mail us on jolindy@santashoebox.org.za.
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
