Diocesan News
Staff from the Diocesan Offices contributed again to the Reverse Advent Calendar, which is a great opportunity to give to those in need. The Reverse Advent Calendar box starts empty, then for twenty days during December, one item is placed into the box every day (non-perishable food, toiletries, Christmas treat). A very helpful list of items to contribute is provided by the coordinators of the Reverse Advent Calendar or alternatively, some boxes were filled all at one time!
The Reverse Advent Calendar Ballarat box official return day at the York Street Church of Christ was on Saturday, December 13. A team of volunteers assisted on this day to collect boxes from vehicles, transport them between rooms, check each box has the right products included and provide food and drinks for those volunteering on the day. The volunteers aged from quite young to a bit older and their work on this day is quite amazing.
The Reverse Advent Calendar Ballarat provides these boxes to people in the community who are in need. The Big Blessing Day was held on Wednesday, December 17 where the boxes were distributed to the agencies that partner with the Reverse Advent Calendar Ballarat – St Vincent de Paul, Uniting Care, Anglicare and the Salvation Army. Those who wish to receive a filled box were required to register with one of these agencies. Each of these agencies are allocated an equal number of boxes for distribution.
As of Saturday night, 1257 boxes had been delivered for those in need, with a few days remaining for people to return their filled boxes. A little way to bring some Christmas cheer to those in need.
More information on the Reverse Advent Calendar Ballarat initiative is available at:
