Donate clothes, shoes - be a Santa for needy this Christmas

How about becoming Santa for the underprivileged this festive season? Indian footwear designer Swati Mehrotra is urging people to donate old shoes, clothes and other essentials to distribute these among the needy on the Christmas eve.

Mehrotra, who designs under the brand Swati Modo, has joined hands with Nikhil and Upasna Chugh of London Market Property, Sandeep Marwah and designer Pooja Motwani for the initiative.

"All these things will go to kids and people on the streets. The idea is to be a Santa to as many people as we can and to give away things which are useful," Mehrotra told IANS.

So far, she has been able to collect around 100 pairs of old shoes and of course, "the need is much more than that".

"The more, the merrier," she said, in the hope that a lot of people from the Indian fashion world will come forward to support the cause.

Mehrotra said kids from Marwah's free education institute, Apna School, will work as volunteers for the initiative, while some students from National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) have expressed support to it too.

"The kids will help us in refurbishing and putting together all the items, and later, some of them will be dressed as elves to go along with a Santa to distribute the items," she said.

The journey across the capital will begin Dec 24 morning from south Delhi, and they plan to cover areas around central Delhi as well.

Those who want to be a part of the noble cause, can drop in their packets at Mehrotra's outlet in the capital's Defence Colony.