JOHANNESBURG / AGILITYPR.NEWS / November 01, 2019 / Pack a box for those in need this festive season 

· Local company makes giving easy 

· Target is 8 000 boxes 

Supporting those in need over the festive season just got easier. Shared office space solutions company, The Workspace, in partnership with XtraSpace Self Storage, SpaceBox and EcoBox is making it simple for anyone living in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Ballito or Pietermaritzburg to help others and make a difference. All you have to do is to pack a box with products and goods that charities supporting women, children, the aged and abused animals have said they need, and deliver it to any one of The Workspace or XtraSpace Self Storage branches.

The Workspace CEO, Colleen Mansour, says, “Many people want to give to worthy causes and not just hand out cash, but don’t have time to explore credible welfare organisations. The Workspace has made giving easy. In the communities we operate, we’ve identified nearly 20 charities and asked them what they need that they can’t afford. 

“Our staff and our members – business owners, entrepreneurs and freelancers who use our shared office spaces and services – have started to fill boxes with essential products and goods. But we want to scale up this effort to deepen our impact. We are calling on members of the public to help us pack 8 000 boxes by Friday 6 December 2019, when we will sort and deliver the boxes to the deserving charities. 

"The Workspace business has been built around basic principles of co-working, collaboration, sharing and connecting. This year, we are taking this business ethos to a new level. The involvement of the public will be crucial to achieving our ambitious target.

“They need us and now, we need you,” says Mansour. “Most of us enjoy the festive period relaxing with families and friends while enjoying good food. Sadly, for many people, it is a difficult time. Too many people are destitute, sick, abused and deprived. The year-end is also a time when domestic animals are traumatised as they dart away from fireworks or are left abandoned by heartless owners. 

"Every box we receive counts. For a child, it could be a clean pair of underwear or socks and some crayons. For a woman, it could be a clean sheet and some toiletries. For an older person, it could be some soft sweets, deodorant and a magazine. For an animal, it could be a flea collar, a blanket and some food.

“We’ve made it easy for members of the public to get involved. All they have to do is decide which charity they want to support, fill up a box (or gift bag), label it with their name, contact number, a list of items in the box, and their preferred charity, and drop it off at the closest The Workspace or XtraSpace Self Storage branch.”

The initiative is being run in partnership with Kindness like Confetti and in partnership with XtraSpace, SpaceBox and EcoBox.

Charities being supported are: 

Elderly

• Eeufees Old Age Village
• Frederick Place - Home of the Old
• Greek Old Age Home
• Jordan House

Abused Woman and Woman Cancer

• Frida Hartley Shelter for Abused and Abandoned Women and Children
• The Oncology wards at Baragwanath (Breast Cancer ward)

Children

• Childrens Oncology Ward - Baragwanath hospital
• Jakarande Kinderhuis
• Marang House

Animals

• Adorabull
• Cataholics
• Dog Town SA
• Gudwulfs
• NSPCA
• Maltese/French poodle & Yorkie Rescue
• Rhodesian Ridge Backs Rescue
• Boston Terrier

Items the charities need include:

Elderly – Chewable sweets and cookies, Soap and Facecloth, Toothpaste and Toothbrush, Magazines/Books, Spoils (eg. Deodorant etc.)

Animals – Food, Blanket, Collar, Toy, Animal Treats, Dewormer

Children – Toiletries, Sweets, Toys, Stationery, Blanket, Bags (eg. Sport bag/ Weekend bag)

Women – Sanitary Products, Soap and Facecloth, Hair Brush, Lotion, Sweets, Spoils (eg. Deodorant, Nail polish)