Being Santa

Project Crayons,another NGO,and Samhita have designed the campaign,keeping in mind the people living in the fast-paced Mumbai,where many don’t get to engage in charity.

To be a Santa,one just need to drop a toy or any stationary item,even if it is used,in a carton placed at the workplace or the nearest Pantaloons shop. Project Crayons and Samhita approached various corporate organisations,retail outlets and housing societies to sell the idea and inked tieups with some of them. They have placed huge cartons at six corporate offices,including Franklin Templeton and Kotak Securities. They have also placed cartons at 11 retail outlets of Pantaloons,for the shoppers to contribute toys and stationary.

“An event like this gives people the opportunity to contribute in their own small way. It helps them experience the power of giving and the desire to contribute more,” Project Crayons member Neishaa Gharat says.

Samhita and Project Crayons will start distributing the gifts to the poor,orphaned,visually challenged and autistic children from December 22. “We are encouraging the donors from the corporate offices to be present for the distribution as well,” Povlomi Pal of Project Crayons says.

Povlomi and Neishaa came up with the campaign idea a few days before Christmas last year. They also worked out a plan to execute it within 10 days.

Cartons were put up at Goregaon’s Oberoi Mall. Though on a much smaller scale,last year’s campaign ensured Christmas gifts for nearly 300 children.

Volunteers and visitors distributed the gifts—mostly soft toys and board games—at the mall to the children from Udaan Ghar,a residence for underprivileged girls under Project Crayons.

“This year,our dream is much bigger; though we haven’t put a number to it,we will certainly try to reach out to many more children,” Neishaa says.