- Ford helps Santa Shoebox Project keep presents in Transit
- Ford donates the use of two Transit vans for Santa Shoebox Project
- Nearly 100 000 presents to be delivered to orphanages and children’s homes
PRETORIA, South Africa, 04 November 2014 – Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) has joined forces with the long-running Santa Shoebox Project to help make this coming festive season a little brighter for some of Southern Africa’s orphans and disadvantaged children.
Two vehicles from the Ford Transit commercial vehicle range were made available to assist Santa Shoebox volunteers in transporting thousands of gift-filled shoeboxes donated by people around the country. Donated shoeboxes make their way to the project’s distribution centres, from where they’re dispatched to orphanages, children’s homes and care centres.
“Delivering 100 000 presents is a huge undertaking. So at Ford, we thought that this year Santa could do with a little more help,” said Alisea Chetty, Corporate Communications Manager, FMCSA. “For many of the recipients of the Santa’s Shoebox gifts, this is the only Christmas present they will receive.”
The Santa Shoebox Project has innovated new ways for people to celebrate the joy of giving.
Through a number of partnerships, South Africans are now able to donate using a Virtual Box. This new gifting option allows gift packs to be put together online, in instances where a distribution centre is not within driving distance.
Ford donated the use of both a Transit Custom, as well as this year’s all-new arrival, the Transit Panel Van, to aid in transport and logistics for the project. Together, these Transit vans have a total load volume of 15.5 cubic metres – enough space to accommodate more than 1 400 average-sized shoeboxes.
“Ford’s innovation in commercial vehicles means that the Transit offers loads of room to fit an impressive 100 000 gift boxes to transport,” said Chetty. “These vans have been fine-tuned over the last four decades, to become the backbone of business for many international companies. They offer the kind of space, durability, and reliability that business operations have come to depend on – Transit together with the Santa Shoebox team will be spreading the Christmas cheer.”
Follow the hashtag #PresentsInTransit to be a part of the festive Ford journey.