Calgary

The reverse Advent calendar aims to give rather than receive

You might remember it from years past, but CBC’s food columnist Julie Van Rosendaal is back with her reverse Advent calendar.

The reverse Advent is a simple idea: add a food or drink item every day until Dec. 24, then enjoy or donate

A volunteer sorts through donations at the Calgary Food Bank. (Jennifer Lee/CBC)

You might remember it from years past, but CBC's food columnist Julie Van Rosendaal is back with her reverse Advent calendar.

The reverse Advent calendar is an easy way to donate to the food bank, by putting one food item into a slot every day for the first few weeks of December. (Julie Van Rosendaal/CBC)

The calendar is simply two standard wine boxes with 12 slots each that you fill with food and drink, one item a day, and by Dec. 24 it's ready to enjoy or donate to a good cause, like the Calgary Food Bank.

About three years ago Van Rosendaal proposed the idea as a food bank donation idea and it really took off.

A 2015 Facebook post reached hundreds of thousands of people and she got feedback from teachers as far away as the United Kingdom.

"It reminds everyone that holidays are about giving," Van Rosendaal said.

Reverse Advent calendar

6 years ago
Duration 1:31
Julie Van Rosendaal discusses her Advent calendar meant for giving, not receiving.