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Share the Love with a Reverse Advent Calendar this December

Share the Love with a Reverse Advent Calendar this December

A wonderful way to share the love and give back this holiday season is by participating in a reverse advent calendar. Instead of receiving something for yourself every day, you add an item to a bag or box every day until Christmas. Once Christmas arrives, you have a bag or box full of items to donate to either a food bank, a local charity, a family in need, a shelter, or to children less fortunate at a school. The possibilities of who to donate the collected items to are endless, it just depends on what your preference is for donating.

Starting a reverse advent calendar is simple. You can do this with family members, friends, co-workers, or even by yourself. It can be your way of giving back this holiday season and spreading happiness to those who need a lift.

Start Your Reverse Advent Calendar Today

1. Decide where you would like to donate to and who or what charity you will be collecting:

You can work as a team (if you’re going to be doing this with more than just yourself) to figure out where you would like to donate: a homeless shelter, a family you know of that is in need, Salvation Army, animal shelter, food bank, etc. It’s totally up to you and your group who you want to donate to at the end of the collection period.

2. Create a list of items/products that will be required to collect:

Depending on what or who you are collecting for, you will want to check with them to determine their needs. Some examples of items to collect could be:

  • Non-perishable food items (ie. canned goods, pasta, rice)
  • Toiletries (ie toothpaste, soap, shampoo, feminine products)
  • Blankets or socks
  • Small toys or books for children
  • baby items (diapers, formula, wipes)
  • Socks or mittens, hats, gloves
  • Animal food
  • Animal toys

 

reverse advent calendar

3. Set up your calendar and your bag or box to collect items:

Mark the number of days on a calendar leading up to Christmas for how many days you will be collecting items, assigning each day to an item you will donate that day. You may choose to collect items for 1 week, 2 weeks, or 24 days. Place it somewhere central so it will be seen every day as a reminder.

4. Give each day:

Ensure that you are donating one item each day to your charity and remember that you are donating to a good cause and to help someone else who is in need and less fortunate this holiday season.

 5. Deliver the items before Christmas:

Once your collection days are completed, take all of the items collected to the local charity, food bank, shelter, or family that you decided at the beginning of the process for the reverse advent calendar to donate to.

Tips for Making it Meaningful:

  • Get Others Involved: Encourage friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, or other group members to participate.
  • Set a Theme: Make it a fun activity with a type of item – for example: Warmth with hats, gloves, mittens, blankets, and socks or Games Night, with games, books, and treats.
  • Spread the Word: Encourage others to start their own reverse advent calendar by sharing the experience through social media.

 

reverse advent calendar

Sharing the love with a reverse advent calendar is not a difficult task and is a humbling experience when you realize the difference you will make in other people’s lives with your small donation each day of December leading up to Christmas. It’s a wonderful way to turn a season of receiving into a season of giving. And the ripples of joy you will create can last a lifetime

.Consider a donation to 365give this year and help us keep our programs running to spread global happiness!

Sign up for a 365give program and continue your giving journey in 2025!

Read these blog posts for further inspiration:

31 DIY Reverse Advent Calendar Ideas that Give Love this Holiday Season

The Best Advent Calendars for 2022 to Keep the Holiday Spirit Alive

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I am a mom of 2 amazing teenage boys, I work in the healthcare field in Human Resources. I love spending time with my partner, Tim and our kids. I enjoy reading, going for walks, spending time at the beach and hanging out by the fire pit delighting in bonfires in the summer months and going for long country drives, stopping to grab an ice creram somewhere along the way. My passion in life is to help others and be the change we want to see in the world and hence why I am a part of the 365give.ca team and movement.

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