Dover Foodbank – Reverse Advent Calendar – 2018
What is a Reverse Advent Calendar?
Like an ordinary advent calendar it runs for the 25 days of December up to Christmas Day, but instead of opening a panel on a calendar and getting a treat the idea is that you put into a box or bag one item of food each day so that on Christmas Day there are 25 items in there – and that goes to the foodbank to help support local people who are struggling to put food on the table.
How do we get the food to Dover Foodbank?
Churches – the box / bags of donations can be brought to church on Christmas morning as part of your offering, or you can contact Dover Foodbank to arrange for them to collect from you, or you can deliver to the foodbank warehouse (check that you know where it is and when it is open) or Poulton Service Centre.
Schools and Businesses – the boxes / bags can be gathered together on the chosen date, and then collected by Dover Foodbank or delivered to Poulton Service Centre, Hollow Wood Road Poulton Ind. Est. CT17 0UB or to the foodbank warehouse – please contact the foodbank to arrange as necessary.
Do the 25 days have to end on Christmas Day?
No, if you prefer to start earlier than 1st December then that’s no problem, just remember to arrange to get your donations to the foodbank when you have completed the Reverse Advent Calendar – do please contact the foodbank if you want to discuss options.
Who can take part?
We would suggest that each family or household or office might like to be responsible for one Reverse Advent Calendar – but it could be group within a church, a class in school or an office at a business, or you as an individual.
What sort of things would be suitable?
Dover Foodbank collects and distributes a wide range of long-life foodstuffs (in date please) as well as basic toiletries. On the back of this sheet is a list of 30 suggested items – perhaps you might like to choose 25 of them to include in your Reverse Advent Calendar. Please remember that we are happy to receive any items of long-life food but are not able to distribute items containing any alcohol; small packs / tins are often just as useful as large ones (the foodbank does support a significant number of single people at times).
Can we include Christmas items?
Yes – please feel free to include items which are “Christmassy” – but if you do then please arrange to get your donations to the foodbank by 5th December so that they can be distributed in time – Dover Foodbank makes up Christmas “hampers” to include with the ordinary food supplies during much of December. If including Christmas items you might like to start your Reverse Advent Calendar near the beginning of November.
Where can we get more information?
Contact Dover Foodbank ( 07870 361180 / 07771 898884 / [email protected] ) or have a look at the Dover Foodbank website ( www.dover.foodbank.org.uk ).