Reverse Advent Calendar: A Simple Way to Make a Big Difference At Christmas
This project is perfect whether you’re completing a task as part of the syllabus for the Christmas Challenge, or simply looking for a meaningful way to help your local community during the festive season.
The ‘Reverse Advent Calendar’ project flips the focus from receiving to giving. Traditional advent calendars involve opening a flap each day to reveal a small treat. In contrast, this project starts with an empty box, and each day, you add one item to the box.
Your filled box becomes a practical gift for someone doing it tough during the festive season. This project has been highly successful and has been adopted by families, schools, clubs, and youth groups. It encourages the community to come together and share kindness, adding a touch of generosity to their Christmas countdown.
Ways to get involved
1. Arrange for your organisation or household to participate
This is a wonderful opportunity to talk about community service, empathy, and sharing resources. Participating in the project helps young people understand that even small actions can make a difference. As a bonus, you may wish to credit this as a task for the Christmas Challenge badge. Grab a box and collect donations of non-perishable items.
2. Donate to a participating organisation
If you don’t want to organise an entire box, you can still help by donating via a participating organisation. This is likely to include local schools, community organisations and youth groups.
The suggested list of items includes: canned fruit, rice, cereal, long life milk, shampoo/conditioner, canned vegetables, pasta, pasta sauce, biscuits, coffee/tea/milo, muesli bars, juice, dried fruit and nuts, spreads (vegemite, honey peanut butter, jam), noodles, soap, deodorant, bakes beans, chips, chocolate, toothbrush and toothpaste. Or perhaps a nice Christmas treat.
History
The Reverse Advent Calendar project was launched in 2018 under the auspices of York Street Church of Christ in Ballarat, with the goal of providing food to those experiencing food insecurity.
In 2024, 44 registered groups participated across Australia, contributing more than 7000 filled boxes to be delivered to people in need.
To learn more about how to take part, including the drop-off details and suggested items, visit reverseadventcalendar.com.au. Give in a way that spreads kindness throughout your community.
