The AJS staffers can be extremely proud of themselves. The number of boxes given to the Santa Shoebox project more than doubled that of last year. “We aim to double this again next year,” says Anli Venter, senior support consultant at AJS. We want to involve the AJS client base more next year and will be sending out the challenge to all AJS customers.”
In addition to all the staff at AJS who contributed so generously we would like to give a special thanks to Boqwana Burns, a new AJS customer who donated so freely to this project. Thank you!
About the Santa Shoebox Project
The Santa Shoebox Project is an initiative of the Kidz2Kidz Trust (IT2671/2009). The Trust is registered as a Public Benefit Organization (PBO-930031301), a Non Profit Organisation (NPO 102-098), a Level Four B-BBEE Contributor and has Section 18A status. PwC are the official auditors of the Santa Shoebox Project.
The Santa Shoebox Project originated in Cape Town and has grown in leaps and bounds, with the number of Santa Shoeboxes growing from a humble 180 boxes in 2006 to an astounding 109,930 in 2014. The boxes are distributed to more than 1000 recipient facilities, through more than 60 satellites around South Africa and Namibia. The success of the Project can largely be attributed to its personal nature – donors give gifts to children whose names, ages and genders are known.
The theme for 2015 is ‘Giving for Good!’
Says Santa Shoebox Project National Coordinator, Irené Pieters: ‘Our focus this year is really about ‘giving for good’. We want to do good by giving (good) top quality gift boxes to (good) deserving children – some of whom have never received a gift at Christmas time before, to create an overwhelmingly good experience that benefits them – for good.
It must also be mentioned that Anli Venter initiated AJS’s involvement in Santa Shoebox and devoted a huge amount of her personal time towards managing and organising AJS’s contribution. She really goes the extra mile and all thanks must go to her for always putting other peoples’ interests above her own. Thanks Anli!
How to pack a Santa Shoebox
Fill the box with gifts
Please remember that all items must be NEW and AGE-APPROPRIATE.
PEP Stores is our one-stop-shop for all Santa Shoebox contents.
All of the following items are required:
• Toothpaste
• Tooth brush
• Bar of soap
• Wash cloth
• An outfit of clothing
• Educational supplies
• Sweets
• A toy
IMPORTANT notes about Shoebox contents:
FOOD:
Do NOT include tinned food, cakes or other perishable food
Do NOT include anything containing nuts
Place chocolate in a ziplock bag to prevent it from possibly melting onto the other contents of the Santa Shoebox
MEDICINE:
Do NOT include medicines or vitamins of any kind
WAR RELATED ITEMS:
Do NOT include toy guns or knives
FRAGILE ITEMS:
Do NOT include glass containers or mirrors
LIQUIDS:
All liquids, like cosmetics or blow bubbles, must be put into a ziplock plastic bag, so that the contents cannot leak out and spoil the Santa Shoebox.
DANGEROUS ITEMS:
Do NOT include any dangerous items such as sharp objects
ELECTRONICS:
Please include batteries with battery-operated toys (please note – these children cannot afford to replace the batteries once they are flat) or choose a non-battery-operated alternative (preferred).
LASTLY:
Do NOT include anything of a political, religious or racial nature
Remember to assess whether the contents of your shoebox are appropriate to the age of the recipient child. For example, don’t give marbles to a 2-year old but give them to a child over the age of 6. Another example would be to give a razor to a teenager but not to a younger child.
