Santa Shoebox Project

Santa Shoebox Project SSP collects and distributes personalised gifts of essential items and treats to children in need
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The Santa Shoebox Project originated in Cape Town in 2006 with a humble 180 shoeboxes. In 17 years it has grown in leaps and bounds, with the number of Santa Shoeboxes donated reaching a total of 1 152 587. The shoeboxes are distributed to more than 1000 recipient facilities each year, through more than 60 satellites around South Africa and Namibia. The success of the Project can largely be attrib

uted to its personal nature – donors give gifts to children whose names, ages and genders are known. As most of the operating costs are covered by the Project’s main sponsor PEP, all private donations contribute towards the SSB Legacy. SSB Legacy brings permanent change to the lives of Santa Shoebox beneficiary children and to the impoverished communities in which they live, by establishing new and transforming existing Early Childhood Development Centres in rural South Africa, with the focus on infrastructure & DBE (Department of Basic Education) registration, teacher training, early literacy and water solutions. The project is supported by an extensive network of volunteers across South Africa and Namibia – kind-hearted people who give freely of their time, energy and expertise without remuneration. It also relies on the generous backing of various corporate sponsors pledging monetary or pro bono support. Many companies, involving their staff members pledge Santa Shoeboxes as part of their Corporate Social Investment programmes.

Michelle Seaman was working full time when she began searching for a worthwhile way to give back.Then the Santa Shoebox ...
28/08/2026

Michelle Seaman was working full time when she began searching for a worthwhile way to give back.

Then the Santa Shoebox Project landed on her screen. 💻

Eight essential items. Months to prepare. One carefully chosen child. Michelle signed up, packed her first Shoebox and delivered it to her local drop off venue. 🎁

That first delivery had her hooked. Within a few years, she had joined the Santa Shoebox team as a volunteer co-ordinator.

Michelle has seen the care behind every stage of the journey. The selection of beneficiary facilities. The volunteers, sponsors, systems and transport teams that bring everything together. The handover celebrations where each Shoebox reaches the child for whom it was packed. 🤝

Her beautiful story is built on trust. Trust in the process. Trust that promises will be kept. Trust that every Shoebox will reach the child whose name inspired it.

Thank you, Michelle, for giving, serving and returning year after year. 💛

Do you have a beautiful Santa Shoebox story to share? Tell us here:

https://santashoebox.org.za/tell-us-your-beautiful-story/

WE NEED YOU. 💛Choose Santa Shoebox Project as your cause on the Woolworths App and help us win our share of R500 000.If ...
27/08/2026

WE NEED YOU. 💛

Choose Santa Shoebox Project as your cause on the Woolworths App and help us win our share of R500 000.

If 250 new supporters choose us, we could win one of 20 × R20 000 cash prizes. If we gain the highest number of new supporters, we could win R100 000.

That’s much needed funding that we can put to work for children. 🎁

Please choose us today. Then share this post with everyone you know and ask them to do it too. 📣

📱 Open the Woolies app
✨ Join MyDifference
🔍 Tap Causes and search Santa Shoebox Project
💛 Choose us

It really is that simple, and it won’t cost you anything.

Sign up here:
https://www.woolworths.co.za/content/look/mydifference-get-back-give-back/_/A-cmp215553

First the lid comes off. 🎁Then come the new clothes. School supplies. Soap. A toothbrush. Toothpaste. A washcloth. Sweet...
26/08/2026

First the lid comes off. 🎁

Then come the new clothes. School supplies. Soap. A toothbrush. Toothpaste. A washcloth. Sweets. A toy. 🧸

Then comes the look. 🥹

The one that says, **surely all of this can’t be mine?**

But her name is on the label. The clothes are her size. Every item is definitely for her.

So yes. ✨

**It really is all for you.**

The count again moment. That is ** .**

Team Pledges are open now. Individual pledges open 1 September.

https://santashoebox.org.za/team-pledges/

SEVEN SLEEPS TO GO! 🎁On 1 September, children’s names go live on our website and the most exciting question of the year ...
25/08/2026

SEVEN SLEEPS TO GO! 🎁

On 1 September, children’s names go live on our website and the most exciting question of the year returns:

Who will you choose? 💛

Then the fun begins. Finding all 8 specified items. Choosing the right clothing size. Picking colours you hope they will love. Searching for the toy that you just know is the right one.

Imagine the moment they open it. ✨

The sweets held up like treasure. The new clothes admired immediately. The toy discovered with wide eyes and an even wider smile.

That wonderful moment when surprise becomes pure amazement.

If you have pledged before, you know exactly what is coming. If this will be your first Santa Shoebox, you are in for something beautiful.

Set your reminder. Start planning your shopping. 🛍️

PLEDGING OPENS 1 SEPTEMBER.

GET SET TO AMAZE!

https://santashoebox.org.za/traditional-pledge/

🌍 A child can be ready to explore how the world works and still lack the tools that help them do it. Early learning depe...
24/08/2026

🌍 A child can be ready to explore how the world works and still lack the tools that help them do it. Early learning depends on access to simple materials that allow children to count, sort, compare, balance, test and try again. 🔢🧩

That is why age-appropriate educational supplies are one of the eight required items that go into every Santa Shoebox. ✏️📚

Educational items help children participate, practice and progress. 🌱

For seven years, Elika Ramsudh believed Santa was real. 🎅Every Christmas morning, she would wake to find a “Lucky Dip” b...
22/08/2026

For seven years, Elika Ramsudh believed Santa was real. 🎅

Every Christmas morning, she would wake to find a “Lucky Dip” beside her bed. Her parents and sisters told her Santa had left it there during the night. 🎁

She believed them.

And for a little while, Christmas held magic. ✨

Today, that childhood memory has found its way into 130 Santa Shoeboxes. ❤️

“My birthday falls on Christmas, so perhaps that is why the Santa Shoebox Project has always been so close to my heart. To me, a Santa Shoebox is the modern day version of that Lucky Dip.”

For 13 years, Elika and her parents have carefully chosen gifts for children they may never meet, hoping that somewhere between the new clothes, school supplies, toiletries, sweets and toy, another child will feel a little of what Elika remembers so clearly. 🎁

The wonder of opening something chosen especially for you.

The feeling that, for this moment, the magic has your name on it. ✨

This year, Elika, her mom and dad will complete their 130th pledge. 🎉

And she carries another hope with her. 💛

Having read stories of former Santa Shoebox recipients who have grown up and become donors themselves, Elika wonders whether one day, somewhere among those 130 children, another story might begin.

“I hope that perhaps some of the children who have received a box from us will do the same when they are able to.”

Thirteen years. 130 children. And one childhood memory still travelling. ❤️

This is Elika’s Beautiful Story.

Tell us yours: https://santashoebox.org.za/tell-us-your-beautiful-story/

If you’ve been shopping along with Build the Box, Spread the Cost, your Santa Shoebox is filling up nicely, and August i...
21/08/2026

If you’ve been shopping along with Build the Box, Spread the Cost, your Santa Shoebox is filling up nicely, and August is the month for sweets. 🍬

Choose a treat a child will enjoy, pop it into your box and tick another item off the list. ✅ Remember to avoid sweets with nuts and to put chocolate in a ziplock bag. 🍫

If you haven’t started yet, you can still catch up. 🛒 Buy this month’s sweets now, then add the earlier hygiene and educational items when your budget allows.

One item a month makes the cost easier to manage and the November rush easier to avoid. 📅

With pledging opening on 1 September, you are getting very close to box ready. 🎁

**CHOOSE SANTA SHOEBOX PROJECT ON MYDIFFERENCE TODAY ** 🎁It takes under a minute. ⏱️ It costs you nothing extra. And it ...
20/08/2026

**CHOOSE SANTA SHOEBOX PROJECT ON MYDIFFERENCE TODAY ** 🎁

It takes under a minute. ⏱️ It costs you nothing extra. And it could help make another transformation like this possible. ✨

🚻 Pit toilets were never designed for little children. At Simphiwe Samangwe ECD, one unsafe pit latrine has now been replaced with four safe, dignified eco toilets designed for little bodies.

This is what Santa Shoebox Legacy makes possible. ❤️

Until 31 August, every new MyDifference supporter counts towards our chance to win a share of R500 000. 🏆

📱 Open the Woolies app
➕ Join MyDifference
🔍 Tap Causes and search Santa Shoebox Project
✅ Choose us

Already have MyDifference? Simply link your card in the app and select us as your cause. 💳

Choose us today. Help turn another place of risk into a place of safety for a child. 💛

https://www.woolworths.co.za/content/look/mydifference-get-back-give-back/_/A-cmp215553

This is that half-second where delight and disbelief are fighting it out and delight is winning. 🤩 The “can this be real...
19/08/2026

This is that half-second where delight and disbelief are fighting it out and delight is winning. 🤩 The “can this be real” moment. That is .

Team Pledges are open now. 🎁 **Gather your family, friends or work colleagues. Create a team. Create 20 or more moments like this.** 🤝 Find out more here:
https://santashoebox.org.za/team-pledges/

Individual pledges open 1 September. 📅

You don't know their name yet. But in two weeks, you will. ✨In two weeks, 84 663 children's names go live on the Santa S...
18/08/2026

You don't know their name yet. But in two weeks, you will. ✨

In two weeks, 84 663 children's names go live on the Santa Shoebox website, and somewhere among them is the one that will stop you mid scroll. 💛 The one you just know is meant for you to choose. 🎁

Pledging for individuals opens on 1 September. 📅 Get excited. Start getting ready. 🥳

https://santashoebox.org.za/traditional-pledge/

Address

PO Box 107, Constantia
Newlands
7848

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 15:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 15:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 15:00
Thursday 09:00 - 15:00
Friday 09:00 - 15:00

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