If you’re looking for a meaningful Christmas tradition for yourself or your family, here is an idea that keeps the focus on the needs of others. An Advent calendar is a traditional way to count the days to Christmas, creating a sense of excitement and anticipation. This REVERSE Advent calendar invites you to put one item of non-perishable food or select gifts aside each day in Advent as a gift for people served by 4Saints Episcopal Food Pantry.

Here’s what you do:

• Get a box. Two wine or liquor boxes with cardboard compartments work well, but any box will do. Decorate it if you want – maybe attach the December calendar we’ve provided here!
• Add a food or gift item to it daily. Our recommended list is below.
• On the last Sunday of Advent, or on Christmas Eve, bring it with you to church. Put it with the larger 4Saints collection box in the back of the church.

Get kids involved with:

• Decorating the box
• Planning items to purchase
• Shopping & selecting items
• Putting an item in the box every day
• Praying
• Coloring in or marking off the calendar
• Making a Christmas card to be included for the clients of 4Saints
• Remembering to bring the box to church!

Add some prayer!

• Pray daily for people who need food assistance
• Pray to see and serve other needs in our community

Suggested non-perishable items:
Sizes are what the pantry typically stocks, which makes it easy for them to store. They will accept any in-date and unopened food items!

• Canned vegetables & beans – 15 oz cans
• Canned fruit – 15 oz cans
• Canned soups – 10.5 oz (no Ramen please!)
• Canned chicken – 5 oz
• Canned tuna – 5 oz
• Cans or plastic jars of spaghetti sauce (no glass please)
• Boxes of pasta – 16 oz (no bags)
• Rice, Beans – 1 or 2 lb bags
• Mac & cheese – boxed, 7.5 oz **We can’t get enough Mac & Cheese!**
• Boxed cereal 18 oz or less – no bags
• Peanut butter, smooth – 16-18 oz
• Diapers – all sizes
• Baby wipes
• Feminine products

About the pantry

4Saints Episcopal Food Pantry is an Episcopal food bank within our deanery. 4Saints’ now has a home at the Community Life Center at Meadowbrook-Poly United Methodist Church. The area has many low-income families, and hunger is an issue there. St. Martin’s joins St. Luke’s, St. Alban’s, Arlington and St. Stephen’s, Hurst in our support of this food ministry.

Get ready to clean out your closets or shop the sales and bring in your gently used or new shoes and new socks!

From October 1 – 31, we’ll collect shoes and new socks for the men, women and children served by Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County (UGM).

Please bring gently used or new shoes and new socks and place them in the box in the back of the church.

All sizes, types, colors, including athletic, dress, boots, etc. are appreciated and will be distributed to those in need at UGM. 

We thank you for your generosity and please know that you are doing something really good for the homeless population of Fort Worth. Also, by giving away all of your old shoes you now have room for some new ones!

Questions?  Please contact Linda Seeber at lrseeber@sbcglobal.net.

You can shop on smile.amazon.com and support St. Martin’s at the same time! A portion of your purchase will be donated back to the church.

Want to deliver items to the church directly?

Ship to:

St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church
223 South Pearson Lane
Keller, TX 76248