GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — The volunteers who organise the Graaff-Reinet Santa's Shoebox project are already planning for this year's donations, and hope to make it even bigger and better than last year.

This hugely successful project gives donors the chance to prepare a gift box of a personal nature for a child whose name and age is known.

Donors are asked to fill a shoebox with a specified selection of personal hygiene items (a toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth and soap) together with educational stationery supplies.

Added to this is an outfit of clothing, a toy and sweets, appropriate to the child's age.

Kitty Viljoen, Rose Wright, Katie Herold and the other volunteers would love local businesses to be involved this year as the need is so great in this area. They specifically target facilities to be the recipients of gifts that receive no help at all from any other sources and that have never had a Christmas party. Most of these children have never before even received a present.

At this stage facilities are in the process of registering, and in May inspections and verification of facilities that have applied will be carried out. Pledging will open to the public on 1st August and the drop-off of boxes will be between 28 September and 14 October. The volunteers will deliver the boxes shortly after this.

Santa's Shoebox has a Section 18 A status and can provide tax deductible receipts in recognition of sponsorship or donation. The Santa's Shoebox is an initiative of the JOG Trust ( IT2671/2009) and a recognised Public Beneficiary ( PBO 930031301 ) and NPO (102-098 ).

At this stage, there are over 1 000 children in the various facilities who have submitted applications.

Kitty and her team will willingly answer any questions about the project.

Local businesses, individuals or groups of friends can get together to make a difference in a child's life this Christmas.

Please log on to www.santashoebox.org to make a profile - again, if any assistance is needed, please contact one of the organisers.

Kitty Viljoen can be reached on 076 730 1626 or kitty@santashoebox.org.za

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