This is one of my favorite charity drives and whoever came up with the idea is a charitable genius! The dynamics are simple, the cause, wonderful! Do you want to help make a less fortunate child happy this Christmas? Every child needs to experience the magical wonders of Christmas time, here’s how you can play a role in doing just that.

Firstly, you need to pledge a box (a promise that you will create your box and follow through with your promise). You can do this on the Santa Shoe Box website: santashoebox.org.za – you will be given details of the child you have pledged a box to, you need to print this information. Then you need to find a shoe box and think of a creative way to cover it and make it look cheerful for the little kid in question. The website will give you a list of age appropriate things to add to the box before sealing it and dropping it off at your nearest collection point. 

Here is a cute and funny video made by one of our locals on how to go about your pledge, in a nutshell:

As you can see the guidelines are easy to follow and while certain things aren't allowed in the boxes, you mostly have free reign to fill it up with items that you think the little person in question will enjoy. To some it up, you need to fill each box with the following:

1. A set of age appropriate clothes (include some socks/gloves/ hair accessories too)
2. Underwear
3. A bar of soap and a washcloth
4. Tooth brush and tooth paste
5. Educational supplies
6. Sweets
7. Last but not least...a toy!

When you sign up for your pledge you get to choose the gender and age of your child who you wish to promise a box to. This makes it much easier when deciding what kind of age appropriate goodies to buy. It will also give you an idea of how to wrap and decorate your boxes. I always think it is more thoughtful and sentimental if a box has a personalized touch - I suppose this task is much easier for those who are naturally creative. A pretty selection of Christmas wrapping paper will do the trick if you really cannot summon up a creative bone...he he, no pressure!

A BIG thumbs-up to those that make it all happen!

This initiative us works successfully each year (since 2006) because of the large number of volunteers around South Africa who give up their time and energy to make sure the boxes get to the right little girl or boy at the right time. How  amazing is it that sooo many people, who don't know each other from a bar of soap, can get together and work in unity for such a special cause! 

Pledges open 1 September - Are you going to pledge a box?

Much love - @sweetpea