Want to take the Christmas spirit into next year? Here's how

Saturday, 25 November 2023

Traditionally Christmas advent calendars offer a daily treat for their owners. The Press is encouraging readers to try a reverse advent calendar this year by making a donation on each of the 25 days of December.

When the Christmas trees come down and the leftovers have been finished, many Kiwi families face a tough start to the new year.

The children are at home during school holidays, casual shifts have dried up, gambling and addiction struggles are amplified and budgets have been blown.

Often, at Christmas time, donations are focused on giving whānau a festive holiday, but this year, The Press is doing things differently: we’re helping families start the new year with full cupboards and hearts.

Join us as we flip the script on traditional advent calenders by donating gifts rather than receiving them.

Here’s how it works: Grab a box, grab a calendar and pop a donation in the box every day as you cross off the days until Christmas. The Press has published a calendar you can use with suggestions for daily donations into your advent box.

The idea is to stock food banks with nutritious food and toiletries for January, but since it’s the school holidays, treats like lollies and chips, children’s books, and summer supplies like sunscreen and beach towels would also be welcomed.

And beyond embracing the Christmas spirit, Reverse Adventing, as the concept has been dubbed, can be a fun activity for friends, family or workplaces to do together.

The Press will be encouraging readers to create reverse advent boxes for the Christchurch City Mission which has found many families are in need of extra support in January, dealing with the fall out of Christmas.

The mission’s suggestions for suitable advent box donations to drop include:

Cans of spaghetti, baked beans, chilli beans, and vegetables, tea and coffee, sunscreen, pet food, tomato sauce, biscuits (in sealed packets), herbs and spices, cooking oil, washing powder, toiletries and sanitary products, children’s books (new), chocolate, baby formula and nappies, baby food, peanut butter, jam, and honey, Raro or fruit juices, fun packet of chippies, muesli bars and crackers.

Want to become a reverse adventer? Start on December 1, find a box, decorate it if you wish, then put something into your box each day until December 25. Ask friends, family or colleagues to help. Reverse advent boxes can be taken to the mission's reception every weekday from 8.30am to 5pm. (It is not open weekends or public holidays.)

Bishop of Christchurch Peter Carrell blessed the new Christchurch City Mission food warehouse in June, but organisations like this rely on everyday Kiwis to keep the shelves stocked.

Reverse advent boxes can be taken to the City Mission's reception every week -day from 8.30am to 5pm. (Note it is not open weekends or public holidays.) Please take a photo of yourself with your box and email it to reporters@press.co.nz so we can share them with our readers.