Advent Calenders mark the beginning of the Christmas season - A time for giving and celebration. This advent Sharing Calender takes it one step futher. It helps us to be mindful of those in need everyday of the year and reminds us how truly fortunate Canadians (and Americans) are. To create your own Advent Sharing Calender take a small box or coffee can and put a slot in the lid, then wrap it in Christmas paper. Each day of Advent, monetary gifts are added to the box. At the end of the holiday season, send a cheque to your favorite charity. Gifts should be added as follows:
December 1 - For every finger and toe on your children's hands and feet, intact and unblemished by landmines - add 5 cents. Landmines have killed or injured more then 70,000 Afghans in the past 2 decades.
December 2 - For every female in your family who is free to go to school, pursue a career, or walk openly in the street, add 50 cents.
December 3 - Add 10 cents for everytime you've voted in a democratically held election
December 4 - Add $1 if your drinking water is safe. An estimated 5 million people die every year from illnesses caused by drinking poor quality water. 1.1 billion people lack access to safe water.
December 5 - Add 25 cents to every shower or bath taken by members of your family today. Two and a half billion people lack access to water for sanitation.
December 6 - Add $1 if you attended a church service today. Millions of people all over the world are persecuted for worship.
December 7 - Add 50 cents if you can name your family doctor. Add $1 if you've paid a visit to his or her office this year.
December 8 - Add 5 cents for every year of your life untouched by civil war or conflict.
December 9 - if you live above sea level, add $1. The World Health Organization estimates that 150, 000 people die every year as a result of global warming. Many of them will drown in low lying costal areas.
December 10 - If you have flood insurance, put a loonie in the box and count yourself lucky.
December 11 - Add 25 cents for every toy gun in your house (don't forget video games)
December 12 - Add 25 cents for every time you have called 911.
December 13 - If you have a permanent address for more then 6 mths add a $1.
December 14 - If you have open access to information through newspapers, tv, internet or radio, add $1.
December 15 - Add 50 cents if you've ever written a letter to the editior. Add $1 if its been posted.
December 16 - Add 1 cent fo revery book that you own. If you own more then 200 books, add $2.
December 17 - Add 50 cents for everyone in your family or circle of friends that serves the public as a member fo the armed forces, police, fire or ambulance. Now call them and say Thank You.
December 18 - Add 50 cents for every on of your children that attends a publicly funded school. An estimated one billion adults are illiterate. Two thirds of them are women.
December 19 - add $1 if you've ever sought legal council.
December 20 - Add $1 if you've been called to jury duty. Add $2 if you've been privileged enough to serve.
December 21 - On this, the darkest day of the year, add 2 cents for every light bulb in your house. Don't forget your Christmas lights.
December 22 - if your free to visit with family and friends over the holidays add $1.
December 23 - Add $1 if you've sung Christmas carols this season. Add $2 if you've sung them in public.
December 24 - When the stockings have been hung by the chimney with care, add 25 cents for every gift under the tree.
December 25 - If your family celebrates Christmas Day with a sumptuous feast add $5.
December 26 - If you recycle Christmas wrappings and boxes add $1
December 27 - If you Add $1 if you had fast food today. One billion people suffer from obesity in the developed world. In the developing world, one billion people are starving.
December 28 - If you have a prescription drug program add $1.
December 29 - If you have a pension plan add $2.
December 30 - if you have ever collected EI or disability benefits add $2.
December 31 - Add $5 if you attend or host a New Years Eve bash.
January 1 - Add 10 cents for everyone you called to say "Happy New Year"
January 2 - Add a loonie for every member of your family who received the flu shot this year.
January 3 - Add 50 cents for every member of your family who has lived past 70 years. In Zambia life expectancy dropped from 44 to 33 years between 1990 and 2000.
January 4 - Consider how fortunate you are. Then consider that 50% of the worlds children live in povery - add $2.
January 5 - Sit down with your family and decide where you would like to send the contents of your Advent Sharing Box. Suggestings include Unicef, local shelter, etc.
January 6 - (The Epiphany) Add up the contents fo your box and then send a cheque to the charity of your choice.
I've decided that me and the kids are going to try our ABSOLUTE best to follow this. I think it will be good for both me and the kids.. so here is our box:
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