Advent calendar that helps others launched
ADVENT calendars filled with everything from chocolate and beauty products to socks and gin have become a popular staple of the runup to Christmas.
But families across Cardiff are now being encouraged to swap chocolate for goodwill this Christmas as part of an “alternative” advent calendar – where you give items rather than receive them.
Cardiff Foodbank is calling on people to help donate puddings, vegetables and gravy this December to help get Christmas dinner on the table across the city.
Between April and September, the Cardiff charity provided 5,976 threeday emergency food supplies to local people – with 2,247 going to children.
Now the charity has launched its 25-day reverse advent calendar to make sure it can continue their work throughout the winter.
As part of the advent calendar, participants are asked to collect a different item to donate every day before dropping it off at the group’s headquarters.
The calendar plan, available on the food bank’s website, contains everything from custard, UHT milk, crisps, tinned vegetables and fruit juice to help those in need during the festive period.
Helen Bull, Cardiff Foodbank development manager, said: “When it comes to the cold months difficulties come and some people have to choose between heating and eating.
“People come to us for so many different reasons. It could be sickness, bereavement, or a relationship break down.”
The foodbank specifies it does not want donations of mince pies or alcohol, instead requesting items like tinned vegetables and gravy granules.
As well as food donations, people are also asked to give £1 or £2 donations on different days to help finance the food bank’s annual costs.
Ms Bull said: “It costs us £100,000 to keep the food bank running each year and we don’t get any public funding. For the van and warehouse its £35,000.
“The calendar is important as it’s both food and finance.
“Food is fantastic and we will always need food but people don’t always know about the finances. It’s a nice thing for people to be able to do this Christmas.
“This year we will be giving our standard food packages with nutritious and balanced foods but we will also be giving things like selection boxes and Christmas puddings.”
Run by 200 volunteers, Cardiff Foodbank provides three-day emergency food packages to those facing crisis.
Last year it provided help to 11,500 individuals referred across its seven Cardiff centres.
Cardiff Foodbank is asking for donations to be dropped off at its Cardiff Bay warehouse by December 10. ■ For more information, go to cardiff.foodbank.org.uk/2018/10/17/ reverse-advent-calendar