Food Bank Reverse Christmas Advent Calendar Challenge!

Brie

OK so I suspect many of us have seen these before but I'll explain the idea anyways....

The idea is to pick one item every day throughout November and get that for your local Food Bank. 

Some foodbanks do these things differently - they are simply happy to have those 30 extra items (one for every day of the month) all being useful things for those who are short of cash.  Anything from cuppa soup to toilet paper.

Some, like the one I'm associated with, would like people to get 30 different items that would make someone's Christmas a bit jollier.  So all those nice things you and I normally get this time of year - from Christmas pudding to chocolates for decorating the tree.  I shall post a list asap to give you ideas.

But basic rules apply - things must be well within use by dates, be unopened, be in good enough condition that you would like to receive it yourself (so no mashed mince pies!).  You might like to check with the local food bank but many of them will not distribute anything containing alcohol and many won't give out things known to be highly allergic like nuts.  So no rum based chocolates and no peanut butter.  Not having these items makes it easier for them to prepack a bag for a family without having to check on allergies or any dependency issues.

Look out for multiple discounts where you might buy something for yourself and get another free for the food bank - lots of stores push items in November for those that can plan ahead and then charge full price for those of us who are forgetful or only shop at the last moment.

And finally - while donations are needed year round in order for food banks to prepare for the Christmas rush it's best to get your box or big bag of donations to them by the beginning of December.  That way they have time to check that everything is ok and if there's something missing they have time to buy it themselves to add in.

DigForVictory

Just to add that an empty box/case that had a dozen bottles of wine can hold 24 tins easily...
In case you were pondering what to do with the cardboard recyling...

Brie

OK - so here's a list of ideas

Some people will want to stick to an advent calendar having 24 "doors" or items and others will want to do something for every day in November.  Anything that you can do will no doubt find a willing recipient!!!

1st Nov	Christmas Tree Chocolates
2nd Nov	Christmas Biscuits (a nice festive tin?)
3rd Nov	Haribo (or similar)
4th Nov	Chocolate Coins
5th Nov	Malteesers
6th Nov	Chocolate Matchsticks
7th Nov	Crisps
8th Nov	Hot Chocolate
9th Nov	Marshmallows
10th Nov	Fruit Jellies
11th Nov	Cranberry Sauce
12th Nov	Gravy Granules
13th Nov	Chocolate log
14th Nov	Custard (tinned or packet)
15th Nov	Cheese crackers
16th Nov	Chutney
17th Nov	Mince Pies
18th Nov	Fruit Squash/Juice
19th Nov	Shortbread
20th Nov	Breadsticks or cheese twists
21st Nov	Savoury Snack
22nd Nov	Stuffing mix
23rd Nov	Packet of bread sauce
24th Nov	Any Christmas treat you always love
25th Nov	Potatoes - a tin or instant mashed
26th Nov	Salt and Pepper
27th Nov	Tea or coffee
28th Nov	Candy canes
29th Nov	Tins of fruit
30th Nov	Festive paper napkins/table cloth

Please let me know if you think of something that might be included in our food bank's list for next year.  There may be some things that are specific to vegans or will help others that are not Christian celebrate this time of year - something for Diwali or Hannukah perhaps.  I know that "advent" is somewhat specific to one religion but our generosity doesn't have to be. 

Be Joyful and pass that along!!!

Brie

Wondering how I managed to forget!!  

Christmas puddings!!

And those mini stollen that you get at Lidl or Aldi!!

For myself I was very boring and dropped off a 24 roll pack of toilet paper at the food bank on Friday.  A pack that size doesn't go very far but 24 households were given a roll.  It's one of those things where not having a lot of ££ really counts against you.  A 4 pack might cost £1.99 but the 24 pack is £4.99.  Much better value of course to buy the larger pack but if you only have a tenner you're more likely to spend the money on food instead.

Cherryfudge

Brilliant list (and add-ons) @Brie. Thank you.

Dried or UHT milk?

Silvertabby

Not really Christmassy, but essential all the same....  I add cat food and sanitary protection to my regular food bank donations.

Brie

Cherryfudge said:

Brilliant list (and add-ons) @Brie. Thank you.

Dried or UHT milk?

Most the stuff I've seen is UHT.  But also with the non dairy alternatives too - oat, almond etc.  

Brie

Silvertabby said:

Not really Christmassy, but essential all the same....  I add cat food and sanitary protection to my regular food bank donations.

Thanks Sivlertabby.  Yes - face it anything you might buy in a family shop (cuz men buy the sanitary protection items too!) can be a great contribution to a food bank - now or at any other time of year. 

It's another great reason to watch out for any "try it for free" coupons that might come your way.  Just because you don't use beard gel doesn't mean that someone else might find it helpful.  When I get those "any free item from this manufacturer" type things on my Lidl app I always look for the most expensive one available as it's the sort least likely to make the cut if one is worries about paying for a full shop.    

Murphybear

Silvertabby said:

Not really Christmassy, but essential all the same....  I add cat food and sanitary protection to my regular food bank donations.

I help at a food bank on Saturday mornings.  People have to enrol with proof of ID and address but dont need to be referred.  There is a small charge of £2 each week.

The vast majority of the items are supplied by supermarkets.  We often get cat and dog food.  Everybody helps themselves to what they need, they have proof of how many people they have to feed etc.  We helpers monitor to make sure people dont take too much.  The cat and dog food disappears very quickly, we’ve found the majority of our regular customers have a cat and/or dog.  One regular customer says he has 5 dogs.    

Last year an anonymous donor bought 25/30 frozen chickens every week for the whole of December and most of January.  They were from a very high quality butcher.  It’s amazing how wonderful people can be 

Brie

Well done @Murphybear!!

We keep the pet food as well as a lot of the sanitary products by the front door so that people can take them on their way out.  Saves people being self conscious of needing help to feed themselves when they are also having to afford pets as well.  Or being too shy about needing personal items.   Given the links between debt, joblessness and mental health it's not surprising how many have pets - one person I've talked to regularly has said that he would have "topped" himself if it wasn't for his dog.  His pet gets him up and out and gives him a point of contact with others which is great.  

A big WOW about the chickens too!!  Do you have freezers to keep them or is it a case of getting rid of them the day they are received?  We're lucky in that we have 2 fridge freezers plus 2 big freezers as well so can store things and give them out still frozen as needed.  We'll be trying to empty them all out in the next few weeks so we can load them with turkeys to give out just before Christmas.

Murphybear

Brie said:

Well done @Murphybear!!

We keep the pet food as well as a lot of the sanitary products by the front door so that people can take them on their way out.  Saves people being self conscious of needing help to feed themselves when they are also having to afford pets as well.  Or being too shy about needing personal items.   Given the links between debt, joblessness and mental health it's not surprising how many have pets - one person I've talked to regularly has said that he would have "topped" himself if it wasn't for his dog.  His pet gets him up and out and gives him a point of contact with others which is great.  

A big WOW about the chickens too!!  Do you have freezers to keep them or is it a case of getting rid of them the day they are received?  We're lucky in that we have 2 fridge freezers plus 2 big freezers as well so can store things and give them out still frozen as needed.  We'll be trying to empty them all out in the next few weeks so we can load them with turkeys to give out just before Christmas.

The food bank is part of a national chain and they have supply stations dotted about.  The people who run ours collects the frozen chickens early on the morning, about half an hour away.  They have a refrigerated van which helps as it means we can accept a good supply of fresh and frozen food.

One Saturday we had lots of bags of frozen peas and fresh potatoes.  So with the chickens that was Sunday lunch sorted 

 The supermarkets are generous, they supply so much and it’s not just food which has practically reached its “use by” date.