It’s a tricky time for everyone at the moment and there is a huge rise in the numbers of people using foodbanks. For the last few years we’ve tried to give something back to our local community by getting involved in the foodbank reverse advent calendar idea. A bunch of UK Money Bloggers are also doing this as a way to help and support foodbank charities. How do you go about it, how does it work and what can you put in? Let’s have a look.
Foodbank
I volunteered for a foodbank for about two years. I’d love to have more time to carry on doing it but those two years taught me so much. The first being that anyone can fall on hard times and have no where else to turn. Anyone is the key word there. I saw people from well paid jobs, lose those jobs and have no alternative than seeking help and food. The food is a massive part of the process in the short term, stopping hunger, but the signposting to places that can help long term is crucial.
Foodbanks are a place where it’s so hard to walk in, but when the clients are through the doors, they slowly open up and are honest about their situation. It’s often the warmest place they’ve been in a while and you can see them relax as they enjoy a cup of tea whilst volunteers organise their food. Children playing with toys, conversations between volunteers and clients and a lot of the time, tears and hugs. It’s not just food, it’s so much more.
The Reverse Advent Box
The Foodbank Reverse Advent Calendar is all about giving back. So many foodbanks are short on items throughout the year and the Foodbank Reverse Advent Calendar is designed to help fill those gaps and give generously. Grab a box, a simple cardboard box will do. You can decorate it should you wish, some wrapping paper makes it that little bit more noticeable and also helps the kids get involved. It’s actually worth adding to your list of advent calendar ideas for kids. Every day during November you put another item into the box which can be used by foodbank. This could be food, toiletries, sanitary products. Buying off the ‘shopping list’ is a great idea but consider some items which are ideal for Christmas too. Advent calendars, selection boxes, mince pies.
This year, as we did last year, we’re doing ours for people in the local area in a scheme run by our church. So we’ll be adding some little gift wrapped presents too. If you’ve been decluttering, consider that there might be some children without much this Christmas. Some local charities might be collecting pre-loved toys for this very reason. So this is another one of the fantastic advent calendar ideas for kids you can get up to.
Make Your Money Go Further
If you can make your money for further whilst shopping for your Foodbank Reverse Advent Calendar, the more you can gift. We’re all struggling and watching those pennies right now. However, helping the less fortunate in our community is a wonderful thing to do. Buy items on offer, shop in different stores, use cashback apps and websites to cut the price of your shop. Get collating those items, have a community mindset and give some gifts this Christmas.
“The gift is to the giver, and comes back most to him – it cannot fail.” – Walt Whitman
