Piccalilly Blog How to create a reverse advent calendar

Count down to an ethical Christmas 2019Last year the Piccalilly team ditched chocolate advent calendar's and started the tradition of creating a reverse advent calendar for distribution before Christmas to our local food bank.But what is a reverse advent calendar and how does it work?The idea is very simple. Instead of opening the door to a little chocolate treat and taking something out, we do the giving and put something in. To symbolise each day of advent a member of the Piccalilly team gifts a donation into the advent box. As we've chosen to gift to our local food bank the donations will mainly be food items, but we've also chosen to include toiletries and of course some of our own Piccalilly organic babywear too. Make sure to include not just staple food items but also some treat items like chocolates and Christmas puddings too.We start our reverse advent calendar box early, before the start of December, to enable us to take it to our local food bank in time for distribution before Christmas. Here's a step by step guide so you too can make one with your family or work colleagues this Christmas;Pick a charity, organisation or food bank you would like to donate to.Contact the organisation to find out what items they are most in need of and when you should drop them off.Create your box and if you're collecting in the workplace create a list for everyone to cross check what items would be useful to contribute into the box.Get collecting and let the countdown begin!Finally, make sure to deliver your box in good time ahead of Christmas. We have started our box in the middle of November for gifting to Skipton Food Bank in the middle of December. This way someone can receive a nice parcel in time for Christmas day.