Advent Calendar for Good
November 11, 2024 6:52 PM Subscribe
I am looking for an advent calendar that instead of providing gifts provides suggestions for service and spreading light in our communities
About 5ish years ago I bought a set of advent cards shaped like adorable xmas houses. On the back of each was suggestions for each day to put light into the world. Like make handmade christmas cards for the neighbors, donate to the foodbank, etc.
While I enjoy those I find that the suggestions were sometimes a little too religious/christian (I don't need a new bible, thanks). In other cases, they were more geared towards adults with disposable income.
If you are awre of something already premade I could purchase that would be nice. The cards we flipped over were small and perfect for this. I also liked that it was reusable.
OR I am open to ideas! If you have a good idea of something that could be done by kids in ~30 mins a day that would be fine, too.
I've already got
--take no longer needed books to the LFL
--fill our local Little Free Pantry with food
--Pick up trash in park.
After that, I'm open.
Also, if you know of a place to print nice custom made cards (in custom shapes?) that would be suitable I would be open to that as well.
About 5ish years ago I bought a set of advent cards shaped like adorable xmas houses. On the back of each was suggestions for each day to put light into the world. Like make handmade christmas cards for the neighbors, donate to the foodbank, etc.
While I enjoy those I find that the suggestions were sometimes a little too religious/christian (I don't need a new bible, thanks). In other cases, they were more geared towards adults with disposable income.
If you are awre of something already premade I could purchase that would be nice. The cards we flipped over were small and perfect for this. I also liked that it was reusable.
OR I am open to ideas! If you have a good idea of something that could be done by kids in ~30 mins a day that would be fine, too.
I've already got
--take no longer needed books to the LFL
--fill our local Little Free Pantry with food
--Pick up trash in park.
After that, I'm open.
Also, if you know of a place to print nice custom made cards (in custom shapes?) that would be suitable I would be open to that as well.
Spend 2 hours volunteering to serve meals for people with food insecurity.
Send a post card to active duty military or veterans.
Plant a tree or volunteer at local community garden.
Volunteer to read to seniors, kids.
Shop at a Latina/o, Asian, Disability owned business.
Bring a homemade sweet treat to your neighbors.
Donate socks or toiletries to an organization serving people experiencing homelessness.
posted by brookeb at 8:42 PM on November 11
Send a post card to active duty military or veterans.
Plant a tree or volunteer at local community garden.
Volunteer to read to seniors, kids.
Shop at a Latina/o, Asian, Disability owned business.
Bring a homemade sweet treat to your neighbors.
Donate socks or toiletries to an organization serving people experiencing homelessness.
posted by brookeb at 8:42 PM on November 11
Write a thank you card for your teacher
Invite a new person to play
Walk or wash a pet
Call your grandmother
posted by shock muppet at 9:13 PM on November 11
Invite a new person to play
Walk or wash a pet
Call your grandmother
posted by shock muppet at 9:13 PM on November 11
Create art or cards to take to a nursing home or assisted living facility.
Learn a craft like crocheting or blanket-tying to make and donate items to shelters or Project Linus.
Write a letter to an elected official about an issue important to you.
It will depend completely on your climate, but offer to help with yard work for a neighbor—weeding, raking leaves, shoveling snow.
Research books on a cause or subject that’s important to you and if your library does not have them, send them a request to add them to their collection.
Learn about winter holiday traditions around the world.
In my area, special education is under funded and always needs donations of things like books, puzzles, toys, etc. If you are ready to donate gently used items, consider finding a local special ed teacher and asking if they can use them.
Leave encouraging comments on social media, where age-appropriate. Artists’ pages are a good place to do this.
posted by corey flood at 6:08 AM on November 12
Learn a craft like crocheting or blanket-tying to make and donate items to shelters or Project Linus.
Write a letter to an elected official about an issue important to you.
It will depend completely on your climate, but offer to help with yard work for a neighbor—weeding, raking leaves, shoveling snow.
Research books on a cause or subject that’s important to you and if your library does not have them, send them a request to add them to their collection.
Learn about winter holiday traditions around the world.
In my area, special education is under funded and always needs donations of things like books, puzzles, toys, etc. If you are ready to donate gently used items, consider finding a local special ed teacher and asking if they can use them.
Leave encouraging comments on social media, where age-appropriate. Artists’ pages are a good place to do this.
posted by corey flood at 6:08 AM on November 12
/jentingting adds a new idea for a product for her Etsy shop (thanks!!) I already had a to do for a self care advent calendar, but this is a great outward facing variant.
posted by tingting at 8:05 AM on November 12
posted by tingting at 8:05 AM on November 12
How about send a letter to your local MP (congressman? senator? mayor?) advocating for something you care about? For my kids, this is often the environment.
posted by Valancy Rachel at 1:05 PM on November 12
posted by Valancy Rachel at 1:05 PM on November 12
I just saw an ad for this very thing! https://sharingkindness.com
posted by beyond_pink at 1:43 PM on November 12
posted by beyond_pink at 1:43 PM on November 12
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Pick a charity online to donate money to
Find used but *in good condition* winter clothes to donate
Pick a kid from a Christmas Angel tree and shop for a gift for them
Donate blood (or they can watch you donate to show it’s not scary to model it for later)
Run a charity 5k (not sure how old the kids are)
posted by greta simone at 8:03 PM on November 11