After nearly a decade of helping bring joy to local children, the volunteers behind Tauranga Shoebox Christmas are preparing for their final year of the community initiative.

The registered charity is calling on the community to sign up as donors one last time, with 3000 local children expected to receive a shoebox filled with brand-new gifts this Christmas.

Founded in 2017 by Belinda and Cy Messenger, with Claire O’Shaughnessy on board since 2019, Tauranga Shoebox Christmas identifies children facing hardship, via local schools and community organisations, and matches them with donors.

Donors are allocated a child and provided with their age and gender, and where possible, information about their interests.

Donors can fill and wrap a shoebox of gifts valued between $20 and $50, ahead of Christmas, for the child, or donate money for the organisation to do so.

“For many children, the shoebox may be the only Christmas gift they receive,” Messenger said.

“While a shoebox of gifts may seem like a small gesture, it can really help create fond memories for children whose families are struggling and otherwise may go without a gift at Christmas time.”

Behind every shoebox is months of planning and co-ordination by a dedicated volunteer team.

“Throughout the year we liaise with schools and organisations, co-ordinate donor registrations, organise drop-off locations, sort thousands of shoeboxes and deliver them across Tauranga in time for Christmas,” Messenger said.

The contents of a shoebox donated to Tauranga Shoebox Christmas. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

The organisation relied entirely on volunteers and community generosity to make the project possible.

Those unable to shop for a child can support the initiative by making a financial contribution through the charity’s Givealittle page, helping cover operating costs or purchase emergency shoeboxes.

“Every year there are at least 200 shoeboxes that aren’t delivered and the Givealittle donations go towards making up the shortfall,” Messenger said.

This year’s appeal is the final year of Tauranga Shoebox Christmas, Messenger said.

After nine years of co-ordinating the project, she said it is time for the volunteer team to stand down.

“It’s crazy to think that our first year was done from my kitchen table, on an excel spreadsheet and my house filled with over 1000 shoebox presents,” Messenger said.

The charity sought expressions of interest from people willing to take over the initiative earlier this year.

“But no one came forward. As a result, the 2026 campaign will be the last opportunity for the community to support Tauranga Shoebox Christmas in its current form.”

The charity encouraged anyone who’d like to take part this year, to register as a donor and begin collecting gifts in coming months.

Starting early allowed people to spread the cost of filling a shoebox while helping ensure every child on the charity’s list receives a gift before Christmas, Messenger said.

Shoeboxes should contain only brand-new items that fit inside a standard shoebox, with suggested gifts being books, toys, art supplies, clothing and everyday essentials. Food, cash and gift vouchers are not permitted.

For the volunteers who’ve spent nine years spreading Christmas cheer one shoebox at a time, the hope is their final campaign will be one of their most successful, ensuring every child registered with the charity experiences the excitement of opening a gift chosen especially for them.

To donate or register to fill a shoebox, visit: https://shoebox.christmas/