The Coronavirus pandemic may have put a damper on our gees, but the team from the Santa Shoebox Project has a plan.
For the past 14 years, the Santa Shoebox Project has become a tradition in South Africa, collecting and distributing gift boxes with essential items and treats for underprivileged children throughout the country.
This initiative has touched the lives of nearly a million kids thus far.
With Covid-19 making it risky for people to gather and deliver their shoeboxes, the Santa Shoebox Project is offering a meaningful way to contribute on Mandela Day this year, with the launch of the Virtual Santa Shoebox app.
They are launching an app that will make donating easy and risk-free.
You can now choose your beneficiary via the app, by name, age and gender.
Zahra Fridie from SSP says the app is being launched on Mandela Day on 18 July.
“For the first time, Personalised Virtual Santa Shoeboxes will be trackable, along with Traditional Santa Shoeboxes, via the Santa Shoebox App which is available from Google Play and the App Store,’ she explains.
“By following the prompts on our website, from 18 July, supporters will be able to choose their Virtual Santa Shoebox beneficiary child or children by name, age and gender, select the items to be included in the Shoebox, write the child a note and let us do the rest.”
The gift boxes will be made up by teams of volunteers and allocated to children living in even the remotest areas of South Africa.
Every Virtual Santa Shoebox will contain eight required items: toothpaste and toothbrush, soap and a facecloth, sweets, a toy, school supplies and a nice outfit.