- Date: 16/11/2023
Reverse Advent calendar launched to make Christmas extra special for people impacted by homelessness
Our homelessness specialist, Concrete, has launched their annual Christmas appeal this week - but it's not your typical fundraiser.
This year, Concrete is inviting supporters to take part in a 'reverse Advent calendar' to make Christmas extra special for local people impacted by homelessness.
Instead of receiving a daily gift or chocolate through a traditional Advent calendar, supporters would donate an item each day instead. This might be an essential, like a tin of soup or a bar of soap, or a festive treat, like a pack of mince pies.
By collecting an item every day from 22 November, participants will have 24 items ready to donate from 15 December. All items will be added to Concrete’s food and essentials pantry, which will be distributed to local people impacted by homelessness in time for Christmas.
Concrete currently supports over 150 men, women and young people in Stoke-on-Trent who have experienced homelessness and complex needs. They launched the pantry at their head office in Stoke earlier this year to support their customers through the cost-of-living crisis.
Concrete's food and essentials pantry
Operations Manager Dean Marsh explained more about the appeal:
“Most of us are really excited for Christmas – it’s something that we count down to every year. However for our customers, people impacted by homelessness, it can be really difficult.
“Their situation and experience with homelessness might have isolated them from support networks, such as family and friends. Now they find themselves living alone and faced with spending the festive season by themselves.
“Our teams are incredible and they work so hard to make this time of year a joyful one, but we need our community’s support to make sure we can deliver all of those special extras that make Christmas really special.
“We know that everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment, but any support is so appreciated and will make Christmas truly special for our customers who have been through so much.”
You can get involved in Concrete’s reverse Advent calendar by collecting an item each day from 22 November to 15 December. Items can then be dropped off at Concrete’s head office at 308 London Road, Stoke on the 15 and 16 December.