More Children, More Gifts

Hyprop steps up to support Santa Shoebox Project’s Campaign

Hyprop’s shopping centres across South Africa are gearing up for a wonderful festive season filled with love as the partners aim to present more children with gifts this year.

Spring may be in the air and Summer on its way, but for Hyprop Shopping Centres across South Africa, it also means that it’s time for an extra outpouring of love and kindness as they become the focal point for collection and drop-off of Santa Shoebox donations.

Each year the Santa Shoebox Project collects and distributes personalised gifts of essential items and treats for underprivileged children throughout South Africa and Namibia. To date they have given joy to more than 1 077 289 children.

This feel-good project has been going for 16-years, with many of the Hyprop centres having been involved for a decade or more. Extending the support in 2022, the campaign will be carried across all eight of Hyprop’s retail properties, along with support from the Hyprop Foundation, which has contributed R350 000 to the continued training of Early Childhood Development teachers under the auspices of the Santa Shoebox Legacy.

Hyprop’s Brand and Campaigns Marketing Manager, Christie Stanbridge, is a loyal fan of the initiative and is spearheading this year’s drive. She says:

“South Africans have big hearts and in the build-up to the end of year celebrations, we hope we can all come to together to help children who need some extra cheer and joy in their lives over the festive season.

“When we first presented the idea of a national campaign to the business, three years ago, it was a unanimous yes, and so we will continue rolling this out to all our centres and encourage our customers to come out in their numbers to get involved and help spread the love.”

Deb Zelezniak, CEO of Santa Shoebox Programmes says:

“The Project hopes to receive 75 000 gifts nationally this year, with the majority being received in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Based on 2021’s results, almost 3 000 boxes will be dropped at Hyprop Drop and Go points in 2022, and close to 20 000 at the Hyprop-hosted Drop Off events – which equates to 30% of the total anticipated Shoeboxes. Hyprop shopping centres enhance the Santa Shoebox donor experience and support the Project in achieving its goals.”

Throughout the month of September, shoppers can go onto the Santa Shoebox website and register their pledge, choose the child they wish to gift to, then collect an empty shoebox (the first five will be free of charge but thereafter, if customers want more, there will be a fee of R5 per box). The boxes will be at each of the Hyprop shopping centres – see below for details.

Completed boxes will then be dropped off at Customer Service Desks in October at each of the centres. They will be scanned and logged before being transferred to identified main drop-off points.

The Santa Shoebox website (and the participating shopping centres) will have some hints and tips on how to pack the perfect Shoebox gift and the sort of items that will make the beneficiaries smile.

Participating centres are:

Canal Walk
Capegate
Rosebank Mall
The Glen
Clearwater
Hyde Park Corner
Somerset Mall
Woodlands

The magic continues into October and November, as each year, donors look forward to the Main Drop off events where they get to see all the love building before their eyes. Boxes are dropped, checked, and packed for distribution to their specific facility – truly a sight to behold!

Centre Specific Shoebox Main Drop Off Events: