Human advent calendar helps feed Manchester’s homeless and vulnerable people

Spinningfields bar and restaurant The Oast House is aiming to donate over 1,200 meals to vulnerable people in the run-up to Christmas by inviting members of the public to open the doors of its human-sized advent calendar.

Every day, it will be stocked with 50 bottles, cans or pints, up to 15 pieces of branded merchandise, and one main prize.

Every time the door is opened on the 15ft squared calendar, it will trigger the donation of a meal to Mustard Tree, a charity helping people facing poverty and homelessness in Manchester, via Foodinate, a not-for-profit that works with restaurants across the city to donate meals to local people in need.

Visitors opening the door of the calendar will receive complimentary gifts such as limited-edition craft beers, merchandise or tickets to some of the north’s best events.

Foodinate founder Caroline Stevenson (pictured) said: “The aim of the Oast House’s human-sized advent calendar is to provide enough food to cover around one weeks’ worth of meals for people living below the poverty line. The cold winter months are especially difficult for those in need and the extra meals will be massively appreciated.”

The Oast House’s owners, New World Trading Company, currently donates meals to vulnerable people via Foodinate every time a customer orders its Fabulous Fondue.

“Advent calendars have become hugely popular and a real celebration of sharing and gifting,” said The Oast House general manager Danny Leach.

“We are keen do what we can to extend this to people who are less fortunate. We want as many people as possible to visit the giant advent calendar and open the door each day to help spread Christmas cheer.”

Visits to the human-sized advent calendar during the first few days of December will also see hundreds of more traditional-sized advent calendars donated to Wood Street Mission, a charity supporting low income families across Manchester and Salford.

The Oast House’s human-sized advent calendar will be open from 12pm each day from 1st to 24th December while stocks last and is free.

New World Trading Company has also teamed up with recruitment agency NSTR to donate sleeping bags and bedding to help vulnerable people keep warm during the cold winter months.