Local people in Sefton are encouraged to support Sefton’s Food banks this festive period and help to back the final theme for the Year of Friendship, ‘Giving’.

This year, Sefton Food banks have launched a Reverse Advent Calendar which encourages more people to give, rather than receive, this Christmas. The calendar gives a suggested donation for each day of the Advent and includes essential items like tinned tomatoes, tinned potatoes, instant mash and tinned fruit as well as toiletries and Christmas items like chocolate, nuts, stuffing and gravy.

Many people can feel the extra pinch during the holidays which means that there is a higher demand for food banks. Residents are encouraged to donate what they can by choosing one of the days on the calendar or as many as they can afford to.

Donations can be made to one of the following donation points:

• All Sefton Leisure Centres – Bootle Leisure Centre, Meadows Leisure Centre, Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, Netherton Activity Centre, Litherland Sports Park and Dunes Splash World Leisure Centre, Southport
• Bootle Town Hall
• Housing Standards reception on the second floor of Crown Buildings, Eastbank Street, Southport

For more information on how you can support Sefton’s Foodbank Network visit www.southport.foodbank.org.uk or www.southsefton.foodbank.org.uk

Here are the suggested items for each day of the Advent:

1 December- Tinned Potatoes

2 December- Tinned Tomatoes

3 December- Tinned Fruit

4 December- Instant Mash

5 December- Long Life Milk

6 December- Coffee

7 December- Tinned Tuna

8 December- Biscuits

9 December- Long Life Juice

10 December- Tinned Rice Pudding

11 December- Shower Gel

12 December- Shampoo

13 December-Christmas Items

14 December-Tinned Potatoes

15 December- Tinned Ham

16 December- Biscuits

17 December- Tinned Tomatoes

18 December- Noodles

19 December- Tinned Meat

20 December- Tinned Rice Pudding

21 December- Instant Mash

22 December- Tinned Tuna

23 December-Jam

24 December- Tinned Meat