LIFESTYLE NEWS - The heart-warming Santa Shoebox Project is an initiative that offers assistance to children in need.
The target for 2012 is 100 000 shoeboxes to be dispatched to more than 600 children's homes, orphanages and other child care institutions across the country. The emphasis of the project this year will be to extend the effort to small towns and farming communities in the country who are in desperate need of assistance.
With 'teach your child the joy of giving' as the essence of the project, the Santa Shoebox Project is instrumental in involving people from all walks of life, especially children together with their parents, in giving to children from a distinctly vulnerable social background who may never have received a Christmas gift before.
Uniquely, the donor knows the first name, age, gender and care institution of the child the gift was bought 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 of some necessities, such as toothpaste and a toothbrush, face cloth and soap, as well as some sweets, educational supplies, a toy and an outfit of clothing. Parents are encouraged to involve their kids who then who then personally choose and fill the gift boxes, and then decorate and label each with the recipient's name.
Participants are encouraged to register NOW online as a donor. To experience the gift of giving, simply go to www.santashoebox.co.za and register.
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