Shifting the focus from receiving to giving this Christmas period

The boys, with the help of mum Kim Pollard, will participate in the Reverse Advent Calendar program for the second time.

They will go to the supermarket together to purchase the items with their pocket money to donate as part of the program.

"They get to see where their money is going and they like the idea of helping out," Ms Pollard said.

"With COVID, my husband and I are fortunate we both kept working - we both had our jobs and it didn't affect us much.

"Last year it was good to talk to the kids about the fact that not everyone was in the same boat as us and there were less fortunate people."

The Reverse Advent Calendar program was started in Ballarat by resident Heather Luttrell.

The idea started eight years ago when Ms Luttrell put items in a decorated box each day in December rather than getting chocolate for herself in a regular advent calendar.

"At the time my kids were quite young and I loved the idea of changing the focus in the lead-up to Christmas in a world that is so driven by 'what am I going to get?'," she said.

"We loved it and it became a firm family tradition."

The idea became popular with her friends and family after she put out a call-out for others to participate in 2018.

The next year Ms Luttrell gained the support of a designer, York Street Church of Christ and local politicians to enable a more widespread rollout of the program and the creation of 1500 boxes for charity.

A group started in Geelong and last year another 14 groups in other areas formed, resulting in the completion of 3000 boxes.

This year the program has expanded to cover Western Australia, NSW, South Australia and Victoria with 25 groups.

Ms Luttrell said she put in an order for 3600 boxes but has already had requests for more.

She said it was incredible to see the response that had grown from her initial idea.

"I could have let it stay as a little idea but so many people have supported me and encourage it, and it has been embraced by so many people," Ms Luttrell said.

"Everyone involved benefits. The coordinators get so much out of doing it for their community.

"For the people who fill them, the parents, three are opportunities to talk with children about who received the boxes and why people will need the things in the boxes.

"The agencies are able to give people boxes of food and goodies. They tell us how grateful they are and we hear all sorts of stories about the recipients of the boxes and the difference it makes.

"It could be a mum, instead of spending money on groceries she is able to use her money to buy presents for her kids."

Reverse Advent Calendar received the City of Ballarat Australia Day Award for Community Event of the Year.

This year's campaign was launched on social media on Wednesday night.

Boxes will be available for collection from York Street Church of Christ (Tuesday to Friday 9am to 3pm), Eureka Veterinary Hospital, Creswick Rd, Lucas Veterinary Clinic, Sturt St Veterinary Clinic and Wendouree Veterinary Clinic, Howitt St.

People are encouraged to place one item of food or toiletries or a Christmas treat in their box every day for 20 days, starting on Sunday November 28.

Boxes are to be dropped off to York Street Church of Christ on Friday December 17, 9am to 4pm.

The boxes will be distributed to people struggling with food insecurity this Christmas by agencies including Salvation Army, Uniting, Anglicare and Soup Bus.

The latest Foodbank Hunger Report reveals one in six Australian adults have not had enough to eat in the past year.