{"id":3133,"date":"2022-12-14T10:44:07","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T10:44:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellingboroughecogroup.org.uk\/eco\/?p=3133"},"modified":"2022-12-14T10:44:07","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T10:44:07","slug":"our-special-24-advent-calendar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellingboroughecogroup.org.uk\/eco\/2022\/12\/14\/our-special-24-advent-calendar\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Special 24 – Advent Calendar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today’s Advent Calendar window opens for a family in Irthlingborough, who, this year for the 8th year running, are turning December in to ’24 days of giving’. They call this ‘Our 24 Special Advent Days’ and on each day they go somewhere in Northamptonshire to spread some cheer and show people that they are appreciated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year they are visiting many of the new warm spaces<\/a> that are popping up across the county. In Wellingborough they have chosen to visit St Marks Church<\/a> and our Winter Warm Space<\/a> at ECO HUB<\/a> in Glamis Hall. They donated a lovely hamper of essentials, and lots of games for our warm space, plus lots of toys and fun items for Wellingborough Swap Shop<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They started this tradition in 2015, which has now become as much a part of their build up to Christmas as putting up a tree, eating too much and singing\u00a0along to Fairytale of New York! What they give depends on who they visit and what they think they will appreciate receiving. They have 2 parts to how they do things…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly<\/strong><\/em> they:-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Make up refreshments boxes for counselling services, support groups, voluntary organisations and hospices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Go shopping to donate to the counties food banks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Bake cakes and mince pies for the residents and staff in care homes and homeless shelters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Take animal food, bedding and treats to animal sanctuaries and rescue shelters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Donate toys, books, games and craft supplies to toddler groups, and after school and youth clubs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Support The Samaritans, the domestic abuse services and refuge, and the Northamptonshire Health Charity each year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Secondly<\/strong><\/em> they have what they call Heroes for Heroes. This is where they take Cadbury\u2019s heroes to thank people\/groups for being real life Heroes. For this Reece and Maddie make a list of who they think should get a thank you for being a Hero. So far they have included all of our emergency services, road sweepers, library staff, refuse collectors, NHS staff and many more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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