A BOXFUL OF CHRISTMAS CHEER
The Shoebox Christmas Gift project has brought joy to more than 1,000 children in rural areas since it started in 2010, writes AVILA GERALDINE
EVERY year, a group of volunteers travel to farflung villages throughout the state, bearing gifts for less fortunate children ahead of the Christmas celebrations.
They drive through gravel and muddy roads, pass rivers and trek long hours to reach rural villages in the interior districts of Sabah.
Just like in Christmas folklore, the role of these individuals from around Kota Kinabalu is similar to that of Santa Claus’ little helpers, the elves. But instead of making toys, the group collects gifts from the public and delivers them to the underprivileged.
Initiated in 2010, the Shoebox Christmas Gift project has since seen more than 1,000 rural children receiving Christmas presents during the festive season.
Chin Weun Zack, 35, one of the co-founders, told New Sunday Times the idea was inspired by a similar project in the United States called Operation Christmas Child project.
The Shoebox Christmas Gift project first started with close friends and relatives, and about 200 donated gifts. Slowly, word about the project spread and more gifts started coming.
“In the first year, the gifts were delivered to the children of Kampung Kibabaig in Penampang.
“The following year, people asked whether the project was still running and we collected about 1,000 gifts from these Good Samaritans up till today,” he said.
The father of one said the project was a success due to the commitment and involvement of people from all walks of life who sponsor gifts and shoeboxes for the community initiative.
“Christmas is a season of giving. We believe in bringing joy to everyone, especially the children, regardless of their background. As a parent, the project is a good platform to encourage young ones to give and not take things for granted.
“This project does not only bring Malaysians together to contribute to a common cause. We have had gifters from Australia and an individual from South Africa inquiring about the project as she wanted to start a similar one in her hometown.”
Most of the gifts under the Shoebox Christmas Gift project come from all over the country. Volunteers work with community representatives to identify villages and children for gift distribution.
The gifts, packed in shoeboxes and wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper, had also been delivered and distributed to Orang Asli children in the peninsula.
Herman Cheah, 35, a volunteer and another co-founder, said the project collected more than enough gifts for the children in villages they had visited.
“At first, we were worried but volunteers will always make sure each child receives his or her gift. So far, we have sufficient presents and we try to distribute all collected gifts by year end.
“Volunteers start collecting gifts in September and they will be delivered in November. Every year, we will have a list of villages and children to send gifts to.
“We have members from fourwheel-drive associations help us deliver the gifts.
“This project also sees doctors and librarians collaborating to bring free health check-ups and books to the community,” he said.
Cheah said the presents were usually gifts such as stationery, socks, towels, toothbrushes, toys, storybooks and colouring books. The collected gifts will be kept in one of the volunteer’s homes prior to delivery.
“Once, there were ant trails leading to one of the gifts. We unwrapped it and there was a chocolate bar.
“We don’t encourage people to send used items, food or liquid as gifts for hygienic reasons,” Cheah said.
Shennan Wong, 33, a volunteer who helped to store the gifts, said a group of volunteers had recently visited Pensiangan to distribute 150 gifts to rural children from various villages.
“I am happy to see volunteers sharing their passion in helping others.
“I feel so blessed whenever I see children smiling as they open their gifts. It teaches me to think of others before myself,” said Wong, who started as a gifter before volunteering in the project.