Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance Reverse Advent Calendar 2024
Turn advent on its head this year with our Reverse Advent Calendar, why not create a
reverse advent calendar to support Df4ta and partner food projects. Your support will help us
provide support to members of our community over the coming winter months who are
facing food insecurity. This year’s will be running from
Thursday 7th November and ending on Sunday 1st December with
delivery being no later than Thursday 5 th December. ( Donation points to be confirmed )
A Reverse Advent Calendar idea is so simple – rather than receiving a treat each day, you
gift one. Packed to the brim with Christmas spirit, it’s an ideal tradition to start in your home,
workspace, school or faith organisation etc and perfect for reminding little ones (and us if
we’re honest!) to think of others at this busy time of year.
Learn how to create a Reverse Advent Calendar for us and make a positive impact in your
community.
Download our FREE Reverse Advent Calendar poster/pack and display it on your fridge, in the office, classroom, or any communal space to remind everyone of the item for the day. We also offer a live version where the doors open to reveal each day's gift!
What is a reverse advent calendar?
As December and the winter months progress, instead of opening advent doors to find
chocolates or other treats, you donate essential items for those in need each day.
Every day, your Reverse Advent Calendar is filled with non-perishable food items,
hygiene products, and other essential supplies.
By donation day you’ll have a completed full calendar to help us support our community,
but also a tangible display of your generosity.
We started a tradition here a few years ago here at DF4TA that’s gone from strength to strength
each year. With local businesses, school’s other organisations joining in the fun.
It’s a fantastic way to foster a spirit of giving and empathy within the family. Even young kids
can actively contribute by helping to decide what to donate, by decorating the box, and
delivering the completed box. And there’s plenty of opportunity to discuss important issues
surrounding food poverty and supporting our local community
Supporting our local community
One of the best things about the reverse calendar is that you can tailor it to suit the needs of
your local community.
DF4TA and partners play a crucial role in distributing emergency food parcels to the most
vulnerable during Christmas and winter months. The calendar’s simple act of kindness can
go a long way in helping others over the holidays and well into the winter months
Please see the core item list, these are the items that go into every 3-day food package, we
concentrate on these items more so than hygiene and cleaning, but please feel free to add
these as extra items if you wish.
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Choose a container for your calendar. An old cardboard box will do just fine. Decorate it if you’d like and set it up in an easy-to-see location (to keep momentum going). Download Merrie and our pack to help
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Starting from Thursday 7 th November and ending on Sunday 1 st December. Add an item each day. From the list provided but please feel free to add any hygiene products lik shower gel and feminine hygiene products. Or any little treats you think could make someone’s Christmas. If in a school split the items between the classes over the 25 days not so much pressure eon families.
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Deliver your completed RAC to DF4TA . When your calendar is complete, take pleasure in delivering your boxful of essential items to one of our daily donation points, by Thursday 5 th December. Date and times to checked with venue.
SPREADING THE WORD
Share your pledge video on your socials and don’t forget to tag us
To make an even bigger impact, consider involving friends, family, and even your social
media network. Tag us in social media posts when you start and finish, create a Tic tock.
Take a picture on donation day, at your chosen donation point.
WHEN TO DO A REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR
Traditionally, of course, advent calendars start on the 1st of December and this makes for a
thoughtful Christmas-time project.
However, DF4TA and partners begin our festive season early to ensure we can reach
everyone in need. So our Reverse Advent Calendar starts on Thursday 7th November
and ends on Sunday 1st of December
Regardless, a donation just before Christmas will certainly enable DF4TA and partners to
continue helping through the winter months not just for Christmas
WHAT TO COLLECT IN YOUR REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR
We’ve created a unique pack for you to use
Free printable poster with 25 core items which you can print out and pop on your fridge door
etc. Here are a few ideas to get you started
Generally, any contributions of brand-new, sealed long-life products are appreciated. (Just be
sure to check the dates.
A typical food parcel contains the following essential items:
ESSENTIAL NON-FOOD ITEMS
- Tinned potatoes, instant mash.
- Tinned vegetables - sweetcorn, garden peas, or carrots.
- Tinned hot meat - stew, minced meat, chicken in sauce or meatballs.
- Tinned soup - tomato or vegetable.
- Sugar-free squash.
- Tinned cold meat - corned beef, ham, chicken, or pork.
- Instant noodles, pot noodles, or cup-a-soup.
- Pasta sauce - vegetarian.
- Tinned tuna.
- Tinned chopped tomatoes.
- Dry pasta or spaghetti.
- Teabags or instant coffee.
- Strawberry jam, peanut butter, or chocolate spread.
- Tinned rice pudding.
- Cooking sauce - sweet and sour or mild curry sauce.
- Tinned fruit - any variety.
- Tinned red kidney beans, lentils, or chickpeas.
- UHT milk - whole or semi-skimmed.
- Dry rice.
- Porridge, Weetabix, or other breakfast cereal.
- Packet dessert - Dream Topping, Angel Delight, or custard.
- Savory crackers or savory biscuits.
- A child's Christmas treat - chocolate coins, Santa, or a selection box.
- Mince pies or Christmas pudding.
- Yule log or Swiss roll.
In addition to food products, essential non-food items are just as important, helping people in
crisis to maintain dignity and keep healthy. Examples include:
- toiletries, such as toothpaste and brushes, deodorant, shower gel and soap
- feminine products
- baby supplies, such as nappies, baby wipes and baby food
- household products, such as toilet paper, laundry powder and washing up liquid
CHRISTMAS TREATS
We love the idea of adding a few extra Christmas treats into the box:
- Chocolate
- Mince pies
- Christmas pudding
- Christmas cake
WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE
A few key rules to keep in mind when donating:
- No fresh produce (unless confirmed directly with the DF4TA
- No damaged items.
- Nothing that has been opened, is unsealed or homemade.
- No out-of-date products.
- Avoid items containing alcohol as these are prohibited from distribution.
Ready to start your giving journey? Download our FREE Printable Reverse Advent Calendar Template now.
If you are not able to join in with our RAC why not make a financial donation for the value of a completed box, we have worked out that would cost around £30 to put a box together depending on the supermarket. Using the reference RAC2024
Click on the donate button at the top of the page and make a monetary donation. You can make a one of donation or join our Squid army and donate monthly lots of options for you to choose from