Spearheaded by the founder of Kidz2Kidz Trust (PBO-930031301), Dee Boehner, the Santa Shoebox Project originated in Cape Town in 2006 and a year later, Irene’ Pieters was appointed as the project’s national coordinator.

Since then, the project has grown in leaps and bounds and the number of Santa Shoeboxes has grown from a humble 180 boxes in 2006 to 32000 boxes in 2010, each year exceeding the annual target by 30% - 50%. In 2009, the Santa Shoebox Project reached children in every corner of South Africa and then in 2010 pushed beyond our borders into Namibia and Botswana, with each country supporting its own children.

Management of the project is comprised entirely of volunteers: kind-hearted people who give freely of their time, energy and expertise without remuneration. Satellite projects have sprung up not only in the big cities but also include many small rural towns, each of which is run by volunteers who take the responsibility as co-ordinators for their areas.