santa's shoebox project

Whether you buy Funny Money or The Big Issue from a roadside vendor, volunteer time at one of the city's innumerable non-profits, buy crafts that come from a social upliftment program, or donate goods or services to said non-profits, there are a multitude of ways to get involved in helping others in Cape Town. I love this daily push to be a more aware, more thoughtful, more kind human being.

Halloween isn't the huge hoo-ha here that it is in the States, and Thanksgiving doesn't exist, so we are zeroing in on the December holidays. This means charities are focusing on the festive season as well. A few weeks back I was invited to participate in the Santa's Shoebox Project. Individuals sign up to prepare a Christmas gift for a disadvantaged child. Upon receiving his/her name, age, and gender, you prepare an appropriate gift for a child who might not otherwise receive anything. Gifts are packaged in shoeboxes, with the top and bottom separately wrapped so that the child can keep it as a treasure box, while also minimizing the amount of waste paper created. Boxes are to include a toy, something educational, something for hygiene, an article of clothing, and something to eat. The organization has grown from delivering 180 shoeboxes in 2006 to 160,000 in 2009. It now operates throughout South Africa, as well as in Namibia and Botswana.

Brendan and I did two boxes, each for a four year old boy living in Khayelitsha (the fastest growing township in South Africa on the outskirts of Cape Town; for more information click here).

To read more about the Santa's Shoebox Project check out their website. For information about donations, email donation@santashoebox.co.za. I suspect you might just enjoy your holiday a little more knowing that you made it very special for a child in need.